Monday 1 December 2003 - News - Road safety
Scottish police stop eight drivers in phone ban
Eight drivers were stopped
by police in Scotland today following the introduction of new legislation
banning the use of mobile phones while driving.
The first alleged offender, a 35-year-old woman from Dundee, was stopped at about 2am - just two hours after the ban came into force. She was stopped near Dundee City centre, but was not handed a statutory £30 fixed penalty, as it is understood she has also been charged with drink driving.
Tayside Police also stopped a 40-year-old man in Angus at about 10.30am. Two women, aged 29 and 42, and three men aged 39, 47 and 53, were all stopped and fined £30 for using their phones while driving.
In Fife, a 34-year-old man was stopped after he was spotted using his phone on a roundabout.
The new measures cover the whole of the UK, but officers in England and Wales have agreed to give drivers two months "grace" before fines are enforced.
North of the border, forces decided to crack down immediately, with only Lothian and Borders Police giving drivers a few days to get used to the ban.
A survey carried out by Tesco Mobile, today revealed that 25% of people either talk on their hand-held phone or text while driving. It also showed that a staggering 94% of people were oblivious to the new ban.
A third of the 6% that did know about the new legislation thought it wouldn't come into effect until 2004.
Max Herd
The first alleged offender, a 35-year-old woman from Dundee, was stopped at about 2am - just two hours after the ban came into force. She was stopped near Dundee City centre, but was not handed a statutory £30 fixed penalty, as it is understood she has also been charged with drink driving.
Tayside Police also stopped a 40-year-old man in Angus at about 10.30am. Two women, aged 29 and 42, and three men aged 39, 47 and 53, were all stopped and fined £30 for using their phones while driving.
In Fife, a 34-year-old man was stopped after he was spotted using his phone on a roundabout.
The new measures cover the whole of the UK, but officers in England and Wales have agreed to give drivers two months "grace" before fines are enforced.
North of the border, forces decided to crack down immediately, with only Lothian and Borders Police giving drivers a few days to get used to the ban.
A survey carried out by Tesco Mobile, today revealed that 25% of people either talk on their hand-held phone or text while driving. It also showed that a staggering 94% of people were oblivious to the new ban.
A third of the 6% that did know about the new legislation thought it wouldn't come into effect until 2004.
Max Herd
