Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and Lee Scott

Thursday 18th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North) (Con)]

13. What steps he is taking to address careless driving.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Stephen Hammond)]

On 14 June, the Government consulted on proposals to make careless driving a fixed penalty offence, under which drivers who commit less severe examples of the offence, such as driving too close to another vehicle, would be offered educational courses. We hope that that will reduce the instances of careless driving in the not-too-distant future.

[Mr Scott]

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the greatest causes of careless driving, even though it is a penalty offence, is people who use mobile phones near schools and more generally, causing accidents? Will that problem be looked into further, because it seems to be spreading?

[Stephen Hammond]

My hon. Friend is right. The use of a mobile phone will qualify for an increased fixed penalty, if that is what the consultation decides. In more serious cases, that offence can be prosecuted with considerably greater penalties.