Police clamp down on mobile phone use by drivers

Scottish police forces are working with the Traffic Commissioner to reduce the use of mobile phones by bus and lorry drivers.

ACPOS and the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which formally sets out the process for the police to notify the Traffic Commissioner of details of these driving offences.

Miss Joan Aitken, Traffic Commissioner for Scotland said:

“Using a mobile phone - whether to take or make a call or text - is a road safety risk. Too many road traffic accidents are happening because the driver was on a phone call or checking texts. With professional drivers the risks can be greater given the weight of the vehicles and their loadings.

“Police officers can issue a financial penalty. My powers are different. I can suspend a driver's licence entitlement to drive his or her lorry or bus. For some drivers this will mean they lose their job and how they support their families. It is that serious. I also look at why the driver was on the phone. I want to get a message across to drivers’ families and friends and also to employers that the driver needs to concentrate on the job not on the phone.

“Last year 223 professional drivers were called before the Traffic Commissioner for driving offences which included mobile phone use.”