Mobile Phone Scourge – Mark It – Map It!

The Mobile Phone Scourge page – Mark It – Map It! – is now depreciated and is no longer available.

The purpose of the map was to gauge the ongoing scourge of mobile phone usage on the road.

Department Of The Environment – Road Safety Education – Mobile Phones

Road Safety Education leaflet highlighting the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving.

One lapse can last a lifetime.

Having a phone with you on a journey can be smart for personal security and to help in an emergency.

BUT if you are someone who can’t take your eyes of your mobile phone, take a look at the consequences when you are driving.

If you use or are distracted by a or read a text message while driving: outside your lane. mobile phone while driving, you could kill or seriously injure someone and face up to 14 years in prison.

It is against the law for employers to ask their staff to make or receive calls while driving.

Never lift a mobile phone to take or make a call or text while driving or riding even when you are stopped in traffic. Find a safe place to stop first or use the voicemail facility and listen to messages later.

It is an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone whilst a vehicle is stationary in a lay-by or at the side of
the road with the engine running.

 “If you use a mobile phone while driving, you’re one call from being a killer, one text from being in prison” – pdf – Click Here

Mobile Phone Use – NI (Northern Ireland) Direct Government Services

v1-nidirect-white-logo2When driving or riding a vehicle, you should not use or be distracted by your mobile phone.

If you use your mobile phone when driving or riding a vehicle, you’ll risk prosecution.

Using a phone while driving – the law

It is illegal to drive a vehicle or ride a motorbike while using a hand-held mobile phone or a similar device like a BlackBerry.

It’s also illegal to use a hand-held phone when supervising a learner driver or rider.

Hands-free phones can also be a distraction and you’ll risk prosecution for not having proper control of your vehicle when using one.

How you could be breaking the law

If, while driving, you pick up or use any type of phone that must be held you will be breaking the law.

This means you should not use your mobile phone:

  • when you are stopped at traffic lights
  • when you are queuing in traffic
  • to make or receive calls
  • to send or receive picture and text messages
  • to access the internet

Using other devices for sending or receiving data whilst driving is also an offence. That includes BlackBerries and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) if they have a mobile phone built in.
If you are an employer, you can be prosecuted if you ask employees to make or receive calls while driving.
Calling someone when they’re driving
Callers play an important role. If you ring someone on their mobile phone who turns out to be driving when they answer, say you’ll call them later and hang up.
Using a hand-held phone in your vehicle
You can only use your mobile phone in a vehicle:

  • to call 999 or 112 in response to a genuine emergency where it is unsafe or impracticable to stop
  • if you are safely parked
  • if you are a passenger

The penalties for using your phone while driving
If you are caught using a hand-held mobile phone or similar device while driving or riding, you’ll get an automatic fixed penalty notice – three penalty points and a fine of £60.
If your case goes to court, you may face disqualification on top of a maximum fine of £1,000. Drivers of buses and goods vehicles face a maximum fine of £2,500.
If you reach six or more points within two years of passing your test, your licence will be taken off you. You’ll need to re-sit your driving test to get your licence back.
Original Source – NI Direct Government Services – 4th October 2014 – Click Here

The Highway Code – Northern Ireland

higwaycode-coverRule 97 – Before setting off ……………. You should ensure that – you have switched off your mobile phone.

Rule 149 – Mobile phones and in-vehicle technology

You MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times.

You MUST NOT use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, when driving or when supervising a learner driver, except to call 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop.

Never use a hand-held microphone when driving.

Using hands-free equipment is also likely to distract your attention from the road.

It is far safer not to use any telephone while you are driving or riding – find a safe place to stop first or use the voicemail facility and listen to messages later.

Laws RTO 1995 Arts 10, 12 & 56A & CUR regs 120 & 125A

Rule 150 – There is a danger of driver distraction being caused by in-vehicle systems such as satellite navigation systems, congestion warning systems, PCs, multimedia, etc.

You MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times.

Do not rely on driver assistance programs such as cruise control or lane departure warnings. They are available to assist but you should not reduce your concentration levels.

Do not be distracted by maps or screen-based information (such as navigation or vehicle management systems) while driving or riding. If necessary find a safe place to stop.

Laws RTO 1995 Arts 10 & 12 & CUR reg 120

Driving On The Motorway

Rule 270 – Stopping – You MUST NOT stop on the carriageway, hard shoulder, slip road, central reservation or verge except in an emergency, or when told to do so by the police, an emergency sign or by flashing red light signals. Do not stop on the hard shoulder to either make or receive mobile phone calls.

Law MTR regs 5, 8 & 10

MUST – MUST NOT

Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence.

You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving.

In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison.

Such rules are identified by the use of the words ‘MUST/MUST NOT.’

In addition, each rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence.

An explanation of the abbreviations is included in the Highway Code.

Original source The Highway Code

Download the complete Highway Code (PDF 14 MB) – Click Here

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