moneysupermarket.com comments on new In Car Mobile Legislation

Commenting on the new In Car Mobile Legislation Richard Mason, managing director at price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, said:

“From Tuesday, February 27, 2007 anyone caught using a hand-held phone whilst driving will face a fine of £60 – double the current fine of £30 – and three penalty points on their licence.

This is being implemented to curtail the number of drivers who still insist on using their phones illegally whilst driving.

“Worryingly moneysupermarket.com’s own research reveals more than a third (36 per cent) of people plan to turn a blind eye to the new legislation and will still use their mobile whilst driving.

“This new legislation will mean offenders may also see an impact on their insurance premiums. If you are convicted of this new charge and gain the first three points on your licence, you may not see too much of a difference to your premiums. However, if you already have points from speeding or other offences you could see your premiums heading the wrong way at rather an alarming rate. Having points on your licence could also prevent you from shopping around for the best insurance deal. Some providers will refuse to provide you with a competitive quote or not insure you at all if you don’t have a clean licence.

“Using a mobile phone while driving has become worryingly commonplace, but as well as the safety issues, there will now be financial consequences for those who get caught. With some insurers indicating they will increase motor premiums this year, don’t give them another excuse to hike up your payments unnecessarily.

“If you want to continue using your phone whilst driving you do not necessarily need to rush out to upgrade your mobile phone as there are a number of products currently on the market to assist motorists in complying with the new legislation. For example mobile users can have a hands-free kit installed. These range from under £5 for a phone cradle to £100 for a fully installed car kit. I would advise people to consider how often they use their phone whilst driving and then match this to their budget, so they can invest in the most cost-effective hands free kit for them.”