Truckers on phone may lose licence

Sep 12 2012

Bus and lorry drivers caught using their mobile phones behind the wheel could have their licences suspended under a new crackdown.

Police in Scotland have joined forces with the country's Traffic Commissioner to clamp down on the problem in a bid to cut road crashes.

They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalising the process whereby police notify the Traffic Commissioner with details when drivers of Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) and Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV) are caught carrying out mobile phone offences.

While police can issue a financial penalty, the Traffic Commissioner can consider further action against the driver and/or the company which may include the suspension of an LGV or PCV licence.

Joan Aitken, Traffic Commissioner for Scotland said: "Using a mobile phone - whether to take or make a call or text - is a road safety risk. Too many road traffic accidents are happening because the driver was on a phone call or checking texts. With professional drivers the risks can be greater given the weight of the vehicles and their loadings.

"Police officers can issue a financial penalty. My powers are different. I can suspend a driver's licence entitlement to drive his or her lorry or bus. For some drivers this will mean they lose their job and how they support their families. It is that serious. I also look at why the driver was on the phone.

"I want to get a message across to drivers' families and friends and also to employers that the driver needs to concentrate on the job not on the phone."

She said that last year 223 professional drivers were called before the Traffic Commissioner for driving offences which included mobile phone use.

DCC Ewing of Fife Constabulary, who speaks on road policing for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: "The drivers of buses and lorries carry a huge responsibility to their companies and to other road users as they go about their daily business. The majority of these drivers are aware of these responsibilities and behave responsibly.

"The use of communication devices such as mobile phones is distracting and dangerous and the consequences of professional drivers carrying passengers or large loads losing concentration could be catastrophic. We are determined to clamp down on such use and welcome the support of the Traffic Commissioner and two industry leaders."