House agrees penalty points for mobile phones

THE House yesterday unanimously approved the imposition of two to four penalty points on motorists using their mobile phones while driving.

The decision is part of a concerted effort to curb road deaths and to promote general traffic safety.

Apart from the penalty points for the use of mobile phones, the bill also provides for two to four points for drivers violating the continuous white line that separates driving lanes on urban and country roads.

The government has decided to take strict measures in a bid to curb traffic accidents.
Among them were stiffer penalties for the use of mobile phones while driving.

It is understood that measures regarding the three-fold increase of fines for offences such as failure to wear a seatbelt, use of a mobile phone as well as speeding are still being discussed at an executive level.

On-the-spot fines for failure to wear seatbelts and crash helmets are expected to go up to £150 from the current £50.

The same goes for exceeding the speed limits, reports said.

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