Texting, talking at the wheel could land Brits in jail

We already knew that UK motorists caught driving while texting (or vice-versa) could face a penalty of two whole years in the slammer, but now it seems that merely talking while controlling a motor vehicle could land you in the exact same predicament. Reportedly, British drivers caught chatting on a handset or sending an SMS while on the road "could be jailed" under new guidelines that are expected to be published. In the most extreme cases, they could be tagged with "dangerous driving, which carries a two-year maximum sentence and an unlimited fine." Currently, these folks simply get slapped with an "automatic fine and three points on their license under the lesser charge of careless driving." But honestly, it's not like prison would be so bad for cellphone addicts -- after all, we hear some cells over there actually provide service.

[Image courtesy of MotorTrend]

[Brodie @ Dec 21st 2007 10:04AM]

I get what they're doing, but that seems a little severe. On this side of the Atlantic you could kill someone and possibly not even face that much jail time...

[Sandy @ Dec 21st 2007 10:25AM]

I don't think it's severe at all. Say someone is behind the wheel of a car and is not paying attention because they are chatting on there mobile. Then they hit a little kid down a kill them, 2 years isn't enough for them? I don't think it's long enough, as it could of been prevented. I can understand if it's a accident, but you don't accidentally chat on your mobile while driving.

Anyway it's not like it matters. The prisons in Britain are full, and there more likely to let someone who's been chatting on there mobile while driving out early/off, over a mass murderer.

[Brodie @ Dec 21st 2007 10:36AM]

Sandy, when you say if they hit someone and kill them, you're talking about a different crime now. That becomes vehicular homicide, and 2 years doesn't even begin to cover what kind of jail time someone should receive for that. I think 2 years is a lot just for talking on the phone. Especially for a first offense. Sometimes you need to be on the phone for directions or what not. But i agree its best to stay off the phone if possible In Massachusetts, I believe you have to be charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated in case the acronym doesn't translate well) 3 or 4 times before you get two years in jail.

And do we know if this covers hands free devices as well?

[daaper @ Dec 21st 2007 11:11AM]

Next thing you know, drivers will have to wear ear plugs and blinders while operating so there aren't any distractions in the car either.

[Sandy @ Dec 21st 2007 11:41AM]

Well they're trying to implement it into hands free as well but how can they enforce that? Pull everyone over that seems to be talking? Doubting that one.

I know that of course talking on your mobile and killing someone because you were talking on your mobile are different things. But isn't happily doing something that could kill someone just as bad as killing them? It almost says that you're OK with killing someone, although you haven't yet done it. I know this is talking about it in extremes but this is probably where the idea for the law came from.

[Josh @ Dec 21st 2007 1:24PM]

I think this makes total sense - it is so incredibly stupid to be texting while driving - your aren't even able to look at the road like you would while talking on a cell and it has already been established that talking on a cell while driving is plenty dangerous. Typing something while looking at a screen on a phone instead of the road is bound to lead to a wreck.

[Pete @ Dec 22nd 2007 7:09AM]

Texting while driving is stupid and shouldn't happen... but what about similar activities, such as map reading? Even glancing at a GPS can be similarly dangerous -- where is the line drawn?

[luzzio @ Dec 21st 2007 10:25AM]

Interestingly enough, in the country where I come from, driving while talking (or texting) on the phone has been an offense since time immemorial.

However, the penalties can never reach as severe as a 2 year jail term. Just a fine, which you can buy off the cop with a 10th of that amount.

[heyguy @ Dec 21st 2007 10:28AM]

Talking on the phone and texting while driving are both bad, but there is no comparison for which is worse. People caught texting should have their licenses revoked.

How the hell are they going to enforce it, though? I had a friend with seatbelt burns on his chest from an accident who was given a no-seatbelt ticket the next day. The cop claimed he put the seatbelt on as he was getting pulled over.

[Daniel @ Dec 21st 2007 10:38AM]

From what I understand in the first instance you get points on your licence (12 points = driving ban) and a fine. Repeat offenders and people who don't pay the fine may land themselves in prison.

[Wolfticket @ Dec 21st 2007 10:39AM]

As far as I can tell, you go to jail if you are using your mobile when you hit and kill the other person. not for using it per se.

[Jonathan Bergeron @ Dec 21st 2007 10:48AM]

hopefully the USA will adopt this law. i hate drivers on cellphones.

[Ireland @ Dec 21st 2007 10:53AM]

Even holding a mobile phone while driving (txting, dialing, etc) is against the law here in Ireland.

[tom @ Dec 21st 2007 12:04PM]

Not even pairing a bt headset or reading msg while stopping at a red light?

[psxp @ Dec 21st 2007 11:49AM]

Would love to see that here on Toronto, Canada

[tom @ Dec 21st 2007 12:09PM]

Hi fellow Torontians (me too)

Until they fix the gridlock problem on the 400 series highway, DVP and gardiner then we can talk about banning cellphone.

It is hard to resist not checking email, when u are stuck in your car for no apparent reasons.

[jroc @ Dec 21st 2007 11:08AM]

Police State anyone?

[scooterbaga @ Dec 21st 2007 11:11AM]

Please, let them do this in the US.

[jroc @ Dec 21st 2007 12:23PM]

would you also like if we had the big brother camera system like the one in the UK? The cops should not be allowed to send you to jail for talking while driving, if this controlled is issued then what next?

[Maff @ Dec 21st 2007 11:19AM]

For those in the US commenting and thinking it's severe, remember we're not lazy in the UK and 95% of our cars are manual (stick shift as you call it), not automatic!

[Warhorse @ Dec 21st 2007 12:31PM]

Lazy? You've never seen me drive a stick on the cell phone, eating my Big Mac from McDonalds, and shaking my fist at the traffic around me.

But seriously, if people get in the car to drive, they should focus on driving.

[DonatoM3 @ Dec 21st 2007 12:50PM]

It's not much harder driving a stick and using a cell phone. Obviously you aren't as resourceful as we are.

Even saying that though I am making sure there is a handsfree device in any car I own now. To be honest to most people the actual conversation is just as distracting as actually holding the phone up to your ear. My friends and family know that when I'm talking to them while driving I will not be paying as much attention to the conversation since I'll be more focused on the actual task at hand, driving.

[Guy Secretan @ Dec 28th 2007 1:35PM]

If you have to send an SMS while driving, that means that you're a twat, and deserve to go to jail.

Honestly, do you really need to use the phone while driving? How did people survive 20 years ago without mobiles???

[Bobbler @ Dec 21st 2007 11:26AM]

Dont see what difference it will make at all. There's no police to enforce it. Until they invent a camera to do this work for them people will continue to drive like idiots with phones to their ears.

[Hax Or @ Dec 21st 2007 11:27AM]

I think it's funny people drive around with their hand to their head like it's 1993.

Get a headset noob!

[striggity @ Dec 21st 2007 11:49AM]

I lol'd...but this is true. Earpieces are like $5 at the mall...and .99 on eBay. There's no excuse anymore.

[Norman Speight @ Dec 21st 2007 1:04PM]

You don't know the half of it mate.
Also included is something which could prove controversial. You also can be imprisoned for "...using a Satellite Navigation Device." So what's the controversy? Well, the actual reading of the Act of Parliament governing this is that Navigational devices are specifically excluded. You might note that it is the Crown Prosecution Service who have pushed for these changes and they are not legislators. Indeed, they are widely held up as a text-book example of how not to prosecute criminal court cases and have a record of losing massive amounts of what seem - from the evidence - to be open and shut winners. These people are middle class ponces who are overpaid and totally incompetent as well as being overly arrogant. In the UK to be a motorist is to be an enemy of the people and to be a civil servant in this country is to have the power to behave like Toquemada. Watch out America, this is coming your way, really! Do you also know that now - under a Labour administration - matters don't have to be put in front of the legislators. Individual ministers can simply issue a change in the law, without any question of the change being discussed whatsoever. Such Statutory Instruments have the full power of an Act of Parliament even though Parliament has never discussed them - nor do Parliamentarians have any right to demand oversight of any kind.
And you thought Putin was authoritative! He has nothing on this lot.

[BigBirdUK @ Dec 21st 2007 2:34PM]

....what Guy Fawkes would have typed if engadget had been around in his day........

[Chebwa @ Dec 21st 2007 11:50AM]

Good luck trying to prove that someone was texting while they were driving. Especially in court.

"I was just checking the time."

Never will work out. Talking maybe.

[shamrock593 @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:58AM]

Hopefully the thought of being put behind bars for two years is enough for people to stop doing it.

[Chris @ Dec 21st 2007 11:52AM]

I live in the UK, I thought that the whole no driving and no phone law was old, like years old, it saves peoples lives, and here on the comment boards, people are complaining about it. I wonder if you'd complain when a car crashes into you because the ignorant driver was on their mobile.
But tbh the only way it gets enforced is by road patrol police....

[Division @ Dec 21st 2007 10:14PM]

We need this to happen here in the U.S
Wreckless driving causes too many deaths! When you drive, pretend it's 1980 and that THERE ARE NO CELL PHONES!
You'll survive.
So will others.

[essexorama @ Dec 21st 2007 12:14PM]

I thought Engadget was all about news...
The ban on using your mobile when behind the wheel has been enforced for about a year now - although the penalty has changed somewhat over that time.
The only legal way to use your phone in the UK whilst driving is whilst it is attached to the dashboard through a handsfree kit or bluetooth headset

[BigBirdUK @ Dec 21st 2007 2:30PM]

This is about a further step up of the resulting penalty, not the law itself.

I'm pro by the way.

[shamrock593 @ Dec 22nd 2007 1:58AM]

Engadget = blog

[KC @ Dec 21st 2007 12:43PM]

I sure hope they do it here in the US. I've seen people drive over 60mph while talking on the phone in one hand, and the other hand is holding a cup of coffee and barely holding on to the steering wheel too.

[Dan @ Dec 21st 2007 12:48PM]

I agree with those who hate the 'Big brother'-ness of this, but hope it - punishment of driving cell'rs - will be done here in the states too. It will save a lot of lives, not just the folks who otherwise will be run over, but the folks shattered by their negligent selfishness and homicide. Let them learn their lesson some other way. Tasers sounds good.

[dosguy @ Dec 21st 2007 1:05PM]

Are you listening, America? It's been illegal in my state for a couple of years, but do people pay attention to the law? Nooooooooooo! Every time you see someone driving erratically they're yacking on a G**damned cellphone! Time to throw these inconsiderate a$$wipes in jail.

[Brumbo @ Dec 21st 2007 1:19PM]

About bloody time. I can't stand people chatting on their mobiles while driving, and we've already had some related accidents here in B'ham, nothing serious, really but that'll give a grip on them fools.

[True_Darknight @ Dec 21st 2007 2:11PM]

well good. Some of use already have to deal with the law.

Besides some people are dumb enough drivign without the distraction.

Happly Holidays!!

[Luis @ Dec 21st 2007 3:00PM]

Ok, the real problem with all of this, is that this is going right into "what if" land. Yes, talkin on a cell can be potentially dangerous. But at the same time, you can't drag people off their streets (or out of their vehicles in this case) and stick the in prison for 2 frickin' years for what they MIGHT HAVE DONE!!.

Does anyone else see that? I am all for penalties, I'm not even innocent on this issue!, but I understand the dangers. But a fine with no CAP, and up to 2 years in prison for just talking? That's WAY to extreme. I'm sorry, but there are millions of what ifs that can happen in life, are we supposed to jail EVERYONE for what they MIGHT do? Come on.

[Mr Deeds @ Dec 21st 2007 4:25PM]

Yeah, they tried to do that here, but the problem is every cop I see is slumped over on their cell phones with a grin on their faces (as if no one see's). Citizens arrest? Where's the blue lights? Maybe I can arrest all the cops so I can go for a high speed joy ride tonight. Man, I gotta get a night stick or something. I do have a flashlight though! :-)