Mobile Phones and Driving

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LTB 160/09 - Mobile Phones and Driving - Insurers join Police in Crackdown on Mobile Phone use when Driving
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No. 160/09
Ref V6
Date: 25 February 2009

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues


Mobile Phones and Driving - Insurers join Police in Crackdown on Mobile Phone use when Driving
Police forces are not the only ones cracking down on motorists who risk lives by using hand-held mobile phones. Motor insurers are now showing support by increasing the premiums quoted for offenders - or even refusing cover, according to new data from the AA.

As well as being stung with the fixed £60 penalty charge, UK motorists could be forking out a total of £5.4million extra each year in Insurance premiums based on the Department of Transport latest figures from the amount of offenders fined in 2007 and the average increase from the research by the Automobile Association. Some insurers are increasing premiums by 18.1 per cent for those clients convicted of a mobile phone driving offence because of the higher risk.

In an AA survey of motor insurers one insurer refused to quote for drivers with a mobile telephone conviction. Other companies increased the insurance premium from between 4.2 per cent to 18.1 per cent.

AA's research also reveals that in real money terms the average insurance premium rises by almost £40 a year - and well over £100 over the three year offence endorsement remains on a drivers licence.

Drivers attempting to use a hand held mobile phone also put themselves at risk of being charged with careless driving, which, coupled with a mobile phone offence, could lead to a driving ban. The AA survey found that half of the insurers refused to quote for careless driving offenders whilst others imposed premium increases of up to 50 per cent.

The AA say that driving whilst using a hand-held mobile phone places drivers at a greater risk of having an accident - it slows reactions and you are less able to control the car. Insurance companies quite rightly take such offences seriously.

Many offenders are not aware of the premium rise and we hope that raising awareness of this extra cost will help members to think twice about chatting on a hand-held phone when driving.

In the event of an accident, police now routinely check mobile phone records to find out whether use of a phone was a contributory cause.

Members should also dismiss any ideas about not telling their insurers about mobile phone convictions or any other motoring offences when they take out or renew their cover. They will be asked if they have incurred any endorsements on their licence. If they are not truthful then it could invalidate their insurance cover.

A very large number of CWU Members drive as part of their job and they should be aware of all the risks.

Yours Sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[DGP1]

I see those people all the time phone at the ear, swerving and not in full control/poor reactions that it makes me really and those are the people who park in disabled parking spaces

[celerycelery]

Anyone caught doing this should lose licence for 6 months. Holding phone to ear whilst either steering with other hand or even changing gear with other hand and steering with knee is asking for trouble.