Speeding, Seatbelts & Mobiles

Police offer some advice on seatbelt and mobile phone use in vehicles as well as the dangers of speeding.

Speeding

Drivers who speed are more likely to be involved in a collision. Just think at 35mph you are twice as likely to kill a pedestrian as at 30mph. Despite this nearly 50% of motorists regularly exceed the 30mph restriction in built-up areas.

The members of the roads policing unit patrol the regions roads to make them safer for everyone. Roads policing officers have a number of duties but their core responsibly is to detect and report anyone who flouts the road traffic law. This can be a variety of offences, such as: speeding, using mobile phones while driving or not wearing seatbelts.

Studies have proven speeding motorists, drivers using their mobile phones while driving and those who choose not to wear their seatbelt all contribute highly to the casualty rate on our roads.

Roads policing officers work with the Dumfries and Galloway Safety Camera Partnership and use radar, Lidar, laser and Provida speed detection devices. Officers use these while on patrol to detect speeding motorists.

It is not just excess speed officers look for but inappropriate speed for the road, weather and traffic conditions. Remember the speed limit is not a goal. Excessive speed increases driver error, reduces reaction time and limits the amount of time available to the driver to observe, plan and anticipate approaching hazards. It also reduces the time the driver has to deal with them.

The message is simple if you don’t want penalty points on your licence and a £60 fine don’t speed, you have only yourself to blame.

Mobile Phones

Like people who drink and drive, driving while using your mobile phone is becoming socially unacceptable. Driving while using your mobile phone includes speaking using a hand held phone, sending or compiling text messages or using any interactive function of your phone.

A driver who is found using their mobile phone while driving is four times more likely to be involved in a collision and will face a minimum £60 fine and three points on their licence. This is however a minimum, if your are involved in a serious road traffic collision while using your mobile phone you could face charges of careless or dangerous driving. These charges bring penalties of losing your driving licence, severe fines and in some cases imprisonment.

It is also an offence for a person supervising a learner driver to use their mobile phone while carrying out the supervisor role. If caught they face the same penalties as if they were driving themselves.

However it is not just mobile phones that can act as a distraction when driving. The increasing use of Satellite Navigation Systems and MP3 Players while driving distracts the drivers’ attention and again increases the risk of being in a collision. If you’re driving is found to be affected as a result of using such a device you again could be prosecuted for careless or dangerous driving.

The advice is make sure the devices are suitably set up before starting you’re journey and therefore avoid having to navigate menus while driving. If this is necessary get a passenger to do it for you, or find a safe place to stop and pull over.

When it comes to using any of the devices talked about think: is it worth it? Can you afford the fine and the points on your licence? Is the call that urgent? It’s simple - you know the penalties and that it is illegal - show some consideration for yourself, your passengers and other road users. Pull over and stop when safe to do so then make the call.

Seat Belts

Seat beats are there as a primary safety device, to protect us in the event of a collision. Motorists and passengers should remember though that there are many rules and regulations governing the use of seatbelts. Below is a brief list of these, however if a vehicle is fitted with seat belts you will not go wrong if you always wear them.

Adults (Person aged 14 years and above)

Every Person

• Driving a motor vehicle
• Travelling in the front seat of a motor vehicle
• Travelling in the rear seat of a motor car

Shall wear a seat belt.

There are a few exemptions to wearing seat belts as follows, however this is at the persons own risk.

• Holder of a medical certificate with doctors’ endorsement stating that the wearing of such a restraint would be detrimental to that person’s health.
• Driver who is reversing.
• Any person supervising a Provisional Licence holder whilst reversing.
• Driver of a Licensed Taxi while being used as such.
• Person being carried in a vehicle under a trade licence to investigate or remedy a mechanical fault.

Contrary to popular belief being pregnant does not automatically entitle you to exemption, only if you have been issued with a medical certificate.

Children

All children travelling in a vehicle must wear a seat belt where one is available, and it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that this is the case.

A small child, (namely a child who is under 12 years old and under 150cm in height) must wear a suitable restraint. This can be a baby carrier/cot/seat, harness or booster seat that is appropriate for their height and weight. In addition to this the small child should not be carried in the front if there are no seatbelts present. In such a case they should be sat in the rear seating area.

Remember it is all about being safe while travelling on the roads. If you are found to be in breaking of any of the above you face at the least a minimum fine of £60 however if you are deemed to be carrying passengers dangerously this carries a minimum fine of £60 and three penalty points on your drivers licence.