As reported by the Daily Mail, chief constable Suzette Davenport, the Association of Chief Police Officers’ lead officer on road policing, said that implementing a two-tier system would act as a deterrent to business drivers, who she suggested pose a disproportionate risk to others.
“If you get caught twice on a mobile phone during a set period of time you should receive a short-term ban,” she said.
“If you cannot conduct your professional life or business, that is really going to impact on people and I hope it would be a deterrent.”
Her comments come as the Department for Transport opens a public consultation into stiffer penalties for mobile use behind the wheel including for LGV/HGV drivers.
Miss Davenport added: “I am looking at people running up and down the motorways, these are often young men aged 20 to 35. They are professional drivers.
“If these people are driving as part of their business and they are taking more risks as a result, in return they should face higher enforcement.”
In response, RAC Business spokesperson Simon Peevers said: “The fact is there are too many motorists in general that still use hand-held mobile phones while driving and there is a real need to change that behaviour.
“It may be that the threat of a driving ban is a better deterrent than points and a fine, and worthy of consideration; but rather than set a higher level of punishment for certain drivers the law should be equal and clear for all drivers and crucially, more effectively enforced. In fact, the 2015 Report on Motoring, 79% of drivers said they wanted to see more effective enforcement of existing laws.”
