Talking On Your Mobile Phone Could Lead To A Prison Sentence

Saturday, 14. March 2009

Calls for a total mobile phone ban have come from safety experts following a landmark case. Lynne-Marie Howden, a director and head of sales at business consultancy Insights was found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. But she was found guilty of the lesser charge of careless driving which resulted in a 12 month ban and a fine of £2,000. Ms Howden was talking on her hands free phone to a works colleague when she collided with a car in the oncoming lane. ‘I believe this is the first case where a conviction has been obtained as a result of a hands free mobile phone conversation’ said David Faithful, legal advisor to Roadsafe. Clearly this sets a clear precedent for all drivers who believe that it is safe to use a hands free device. Anything that you do whilst driving, if it results in an accident, could have serious consequences. Added to the above, if the accident had taken place after the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act charges would have been brought under that act which could have resulted in a prison sentence and a much stronger sentence. You have been warned – again! By Graham Hill