Stopped for using mobile phone while driving

[DrivingOffence]

Regular mumsnetter name changed for this as I'm very ashamed of myself.

I was driving, queuing in traffic (so not moving), looked at my phone for no good reason, I know this is illegal and irresponsible. I didn't notice there was a police officer on the other side of the road and he obviously pulled me over, took my license details and logged the offence. He asked why I was using my phone and I had to say I had no good reason, I didn't.

Could anyone advise me please what is likely to happen? I have looked it up and it seems that the minimum penalty is 6 points and a £200 fine, so I assume I'll get that. Is there a risk of further prosecution/penalties?

Any advice most welcome and feel free to tell me what an irresponsible idiot I am, I know I am but deserve a kicking tbh.

You're really not in any position to be making sassy comments right now...

And I do hope you've not been stupid enough to do it again, because you got away with it, so many deaths caused by this that sadly could be prevented.

I find it somewhat ironic that touching your phone gets six points, a fine and hiked insurance but that it's OK for the heater controls to be two layers into a screen on the dash.

It is true that it can be really tricky to adjust settings like this. My car screen allows you to select and play music but it's not safe to do it, tbh. I always do it before I set off or when stopped in traffic. Definitely can't do it when driving.

Ironic ... have you really seen how many deaths are caused by this, hence seeming a little harsh .. it really isn't, it's there as a deterrent for a reason

I'm well aware of the damage that can be done driving with a phone.

But that wasn't the point of my post was it?

When drivers think they can check phones waiting at lights, they are more likely to check phones when not at lights.

Carrying your phone on your lap and checking it at every chance is the default near me now. I can walk down one junction and watch almost every driver doing it.

There’s no way they aren’t going to check the phone if a notif comes through when they’re doing speed.

@Bromptotoo
Oh yeah more concerned about the heating controls 🫤

I kind of get the op here. I see so many people driving and on their phones- one notable occasion swerving all across their lane on a dual carriageway, but they get away with it. Sitting in traffic really isn't the same as driving with a phone presumably in your lap, one hand on the steering wheel and head constantly dipping. It's so obvious.

Just chalk it up to bad luck. You were stationary so the most harm could've been someone behind having to wait, which is no different to if someone has to hand a toy to a crying baby whilst stationary at lights really.
A fine and points isn't a huge issue, dont add stressing yourself to it as thats worse than the points and fine and wont change the situation. Just be careful to follow rules from now on and treat it as a lesson.

I'm neither more nor less concerned about the heating.

My point is that those who regulate this stuff happily allow equal or greater distractions to be baked in to car design.

I agree.
Stationary in traffic and you can't even call someone to tell them the traffic isn't moving and you'll be late or look up alternative routes. Ridiculous, it isn't even comparable to 71 miles on the motorway.
And this isn't to trivialise driving while using the phone.

I was caught under similar circumstances a few years back. At the time it was only 3 points in my licence, can't remember what the fine was. There was certainly no other action taken. I was ashamed as well but it'll pass, don't beat yourself up too much. All you can do is learn from it.

I tell you what's worse, my car screen let's me know incoming text messages, then gives me the option to read them on the screen!!!

I simply wish that technology existed rendering phones unusable for drivers.

Pulling people over like OP when they are stationary in traffic is simple, it's the fuckers that are driving at high speed pissing about their phones that needs some sort of solution. These arseholes don't give a shit and much harder to catch than all the OP's sat still in traffic.

In fact they probably know they're more likely to get caught sat in traffic (by a copper crawling past in the opposite direction at 5mph) so are more careful when in that situation!!

I completely agree with the post about menu settings. I didn’t realise how bad accessing settings using touch screens had become until I got a new car recently. I don’t think this poster is minimising using a phone, I think they are making the point that if mobile phone use is dangerous then the steps you need now to simply change a heating setting are equally as bad, but car manufacturers are allowed to do that. I think my car’s touchscreen-only settings accessed by several sequential menu options for everything are positively dangerous. I hate it.

I also hate how it constantly shouts at me - there’s always some alert pinging. If I paid attention to them I’d not be concentrating on driving. It is supposed to increase safety - I can’t see how it does, it is so distracting, and it can’t be turned off.

Edited because it didn’t quote the post in the way I expected!

So what speed would it be ok to text at? Would it be different for if you’re updating your insta, or sending an important work email? Or is it all ok as long as you don’t kill someone? Should it depend on the extent of the injuries you cause?

Or maybe just act like an adult and don’t break the law?

You’ll probably get a Notice of Intended Prosecution within the next 14 Days, with the option to submit your plea, and state whether you wish to attend court. If you plead guilty but don’t wish to attend court (and really, there’s little reason why you should), you’ll probably be dealt with by was of Single Justice Procedure, with points and either a fixed penalty or a band A fine, typically 50% of your weekly income. There might also be costs of around £100 and a surcharge of 40%. I believe you should also tell your insurer.

As an aside, I do wonder if the new technology is an entirely good thing. I had a courtesy car recently, a 24 plate, and almost all controls were on a large screen. There was no way I could safely change the temperature or radio station while driving, and the screen was large enough and bright enough to be intrusive. I was happy to get my eight year old car back the next day.

When I had to buy a car about 7 years ago (2nd hand) it really shocked me how many had these huge screens with a pile of lights and beeper and menus to scroll through. I don't want any of that shit. My polo is as basic as they come, I change temp with an old fashioned dial and I'm really alarmed that car manufacturers are building all these not-safe features into cars now. That's insane!

You re dead right, modern cars are ridiculous and its very distracting, same or worse than a phone & has been highlighted by safety campaigners.

The most common reason for a cyclist to be killed is to be run over, often by a distracted car driver.

That would be completely disproportionate

Exactly. Some things are far more of a distraction, which does need addressing.

What's the difference between being pulled over at the side of the road to being in a queue of traffic with your car in neutral and your handbreak on? My engine switches itself off after a bit.

I would never ever pick up my phone while moving in any way, but if I'm at lights which take ages with hand brake on and gears in neutral or stuck in a traffic jam on a motorway, then yes, I may pick up my phone to text whoever i need to that I'm going to be late (for work, or going home etc), "stuck in traffic, will be late" while glancing up every few seconds. I think most people do that, don't they? If the traffic started to move while I was doing that then I'd throw my phone down on the seat and the message just wouldn't get sent. I think it's similar to what I used to do if the kids were crying in their car seat and dropped their dummy - if stationary at lights I'd reach over to look for it and put it back in.

But I get that police will never be able to tell who is going to be responsible enough to throw the phone down with the text unsent if traffic starts to move and who would keep it on their lap and try to press send while moving, so they have to just treat everyone as though they'd be irresponsible.

I am completely guilty of occasionally looking at my phone when stationary but this thread will put an end to it.