Hello, all! Steven here.
How's everyone doing this week? Well, I hope. I'm quite excited myself – we are now officially in the countdown to peak season for courier work, and while there's bound to be plenty of hard work ahead (as you all will probably be well aware) it's also going to be well worth it. After all, who doesn't like a bit of extra cash in their pocket to spend at Christmas?
New Phone Laws Take Effect
But as warehouses start to crank up and many of us begin to anticipate a lot of extra work and a bit of extra cash, there's something else we should be paying attention to, as well. The British Government has recently passed new laws for phone use when driving, and, as excited as we all are about the Christmas season, we all need to be mindful of them. Because nobody wants to fall foul of the law just as peak season starts for courier work...
So what exactly are these new laws, and how do they affect courier work? (I hear you ask.) Just how are they going to impact the courier industry and the way us drivers go about our jobs? The first thing I'm going to tell you about that is to relax. You're still going to be able to use your phone as a GPS device, or to catch up with the latest news from Courier Exchange, and all that other good stuff we usually talk about around here. What you can't do (and to be fair, you already couldn't) is talk on your phone while driving - or at least not without having your hands-free kit. If you do and you get caught, there'll be a fine to contend with.
Increased Fines
"But Steve that's how it's ALWAYS been, you daftie!" (I can now hear you say.) And, of course, that's true. But did you know that as of March of this year the fine had doubled? Plus, being caught just once now takes enough points away for you to have your licence revoked, as they're cutting those in half! So, if you want to continue doing courier work in the foreseeable future, you better make sure you save the chat for hands-free or when you're stopped.
Just to confirm again, though, using your phone for GPS navigation IS allowed, as long as it's set up in a hands-free holder. You can even get away with talking in a situation like that – though you should still be careful, as it could still be seen as distracting and you could still be made to pay. So my advice is to go with the old saying: "better safe than sorry".
Well, that's that – bit of a glum post this week, I know, but it needed talking about I'm sure you'll all agree. Perhaps next time we'll talk about something cheerier!
Until then, be well, and drive safe.
- Steve