UK's Mobile Phone Driving Ban Could Result in Prosecution of Employers

The British government is planning to allow the police to prosecute employers who cause or permit their drivers to use a mobile phone while driving, according to the Financial Times. It is estimated that the government proposals would result in 100,000 fixed penalty notices and 5,000 court prosecutions a year. A fixed fine of 30 pounds ($46) or a court-enforced fine of up to 1,000 pounds would apply "in all circumstances other than when the vehicle was parked and with the engine off," the Department of Transport said. The number of drivers using mobile phones has risen from 1.5 percent in November 2000 to 2.2 percent this year, according to British government analysis.