From the 1st December 2003, those caught using a mobile phone while driving face an initial fine of £30, which could rise to £1,000 pounds if the matter goes to court and 3 penalty points on your licence. This could be as much as £2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles or those manufactured or adapted to carry 9 or more passengers. It will be an offence whilst driving to use a handheld device to: Speak or listen to a phone call or view any sort of data - including Internet or text messages. The use of a hand-held phone, even when stationary (i.e. in a traffic jam, at the traffic lights) will remain an offence. In addition, drivers who use a hands-free phone could also face prosecution for failing to have proper control of their vehicle, if their driving is considered to be dangerous or reckless because of the distraction. The penalty will apply any time drivers are caught holding a mobile in their hands, or wedged between their head and shoulder, or any time passengers are seen holding a phone to the driver's ear. According to BT, you cannot drive safely unless you are fully aware of what is happening around you and concentrating fully on the environment in which you are moving. This includes silencing or switching phones off and not using a hands free mobile phone for conference calls whilst driving. A recent study of driving with mobiles revealed the following: Drivers were less responsive after the phone call than before it. There was no perceptible difference in the level of distraction generated by drivers using hand-held or hands-free phones - both seriously affected the driver's ability to consistently attend to the driving task. When using a hands-free device, drivers missed more warning signs than someone over the legal drink-drive limit. Drivers' reaction times were on average 30 percent slower when talking on a handheld phone compared to being drunk. We would encourage all members to switch off their mobiles before driving and not switch them on again until they are parked up safely with the engine turned off.