Drivers caught texting should face stronger punishments, it has been claimed.
We've all been in the situation where we're cruising along and hear our mobile phone ringing. It's imperative you don't answer the call unless you have a hands-free kit for this purpose, as doing so could distract you from what's happening on the road in front of you.
Similarly, it's just as important you don't send text messages while at the wheel. It can be very tempting to write a quick text in order to reply to someone or to let them know some information that just cannot wait – but we all know this can wait in reality and if it really can't, then you need to pull over and stop your vehicle before pulling out your phone.
Being distracted in the driver's seat is very dangerous and could lead to serious accidents. By not concentrating on the road, motorists are not only placing their own lives at risk, but also those of other drivers and pedestrians.
With this in mind, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has called for stronger and more consistent penalties to be handed out to those who cause death by dangerous driving.
Analysis carried out by the IAM has shown that the average sentence for this crime from 11 recent prosecutions involving use of mobiles and smartphones while driving is four and a half years in prison, as well as a seven-year disqualification from driving.
Simon Best, chief executive of the IAM, said: "The maximum sentence available to the courts is 14 years, so there is still scope for an even stronger road safety message that drivers who kill whilst distracted on their phones will be caught and jailed for a long time.
"The lesson here is obvious: never use your phone while driving."
He recommended people never use a phone while driving – even when using a loudspeaker or hands-free kit – as using this type of device will always serve to take attention away from the road.
By Bob Fletcher