Driven to distraction

Drivers appear to be shrugging off the threat of jail for causing fatal accidents while texting or talking on a mobile phone.

Two Evening Standard photographers caught dozens of motorists using their phones while driving - despite a new crackdown which could mean up to 14 years in prison for offenders who kill.

Among those pictured were cabbies, van drivers and commuters.

However, motoring organisations insisted today that the new sentencing guidelines, which came into effect yesterday, would make roads safer.

Paul Watters, the AA's head of roads and transport policy, said: "Sadly, some people do not think ahead when they reach for the mobile phone while driving- - it seems a habit many cannot break. They often do not think that answering a phone or texting could have catastrophic effects, let alone what the sentence would be.

"But when more people begin to be jailed for using phones in the lead-up to accidents, they will get the message."

Adrian Tink of the RAC said: "When not driven responsibly, cars can be lethal weapons.

"We would hope that tougher sentencing for the most serious driving offences will act as a deterrent to those who do not take the responsibility of driving a vehicle seriously enough." He added: "There is a clear appetite among motorists to clamp down on the illegal use of mobile phones while driving - 79 per cent say that seeing it makes them angry or stressed."

But road safety charity Brake said the new guidelines did not go far enough.

Founder Mary Williams said: "We welcome the fact that more drivers who commit offences and kill will, hopefully, now be imprisoned. But the law is still woefully lenient in tackling drivers who kill and maim through their own actions with catastrophic consequences for families."

The ban on the use of hand-held mobiles while driving was introduced in December 2003.

From February last year, the fixedpenalty fine doubled from £30 to £60 and offenders became liable for three penalty points on their licences.

Cyclists are not covered by the new guidelines but can be prosecuted for offences such as riding while unfit through drink or drugs or "wanton or furious" cycling, which carry a maximum two-year jail sentence.

It is also possible a cyclist caught using a mobile while riding could be judged to be guilty of the "wilful" misconduct or neglect targeted by the legislation.