Police To Catch Motorists On Mobile Phones While Driving
By CT Hj Mahmod

Bandar Seri Begawan - Police have dispatched a strict warning to drivers not to use their mobile phone while driving as they launch an ongoing operation to catch motorists in the act.

Although it is common knowledge that using the mobile while driving is an offence in the Sultanate, motorists are still flippant, ignorant of the consequences that could fatally jeopardise the driver's lives and other motorists as well as pedestrians.

Despite enforcement of the mobile phone hands-free law in early 2004 to deter the driving offence, there is little sign that this reckless driving habit is abating as some motorists are still caught in the act on the road.

The legislation came into force when an irresponsible motorist claimed the lives of two brothers in April 2004, who had failed to see the two children crossing the road because he was too preoccupied messaging someone on the mobile phone while driving.

Those caught using the handphone while driving are committing an offence under Section 29A of the Traffic Act, and are liable to pay a fine of B$1,000 and six months' imprisonment or both.

For a second and subsequent conviction, violators found guilty of the offence can be fined $2,000 or 12 months' jail or both.

It seems some drivers in the country are not taking the tough penalty nor the dangers they pose seriously.

An official source from the Investigation/Traffic Department at the Royal Brunei Police Force, yesterday told the Sunday Bulletin, that "a few cases where drivers were caught using their mobile phones while driving, are still pending. They were apprehended during a road safety operation early last year".

He advised drivers to stop by the roadside, should they need to take an important call, while they are still on the road.

However, these reported cases could only be the `tip of an iceberg'. Some drivers are still ignorant of the law.

The word `use' in relation to the mobile phone as defined under Section 29A of the Traffic Act, means to hold the mobile in one hand while using it to communicate with any person while maneuvering the steering wheel with the other.

In Malaysia, The Star Online in a report cited Malaysian traffic police as saying "Driving while chatting on a hand-held mobile phone ranks as one of the most dangerous but increasingly popular habits of Malaysian drivers".

The Star report stated that police issued more then 47,000 summonses for the offence last year, where 47,247 people were caught using mobile phones without hands-free kits, while an average of 129 people were caught using mobile phones while driving daily. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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