It’s less than one week since Pokemon Go went live in the UK, and it’s already causing havoc on our roads.
There’ve been reports of gamers walking into the middle of roads to catch Pokemon, motorways clogged due to drivers abandoning their cars to play Pokemon battles, and now people are now attempting to catch Pokemon whilst driving.
Whilst we’re sure you don’t need an expert in motoring law to tell you that this is clearly illegal, here are some of the potential consequences you’d face if caught doing this by the police.
- 3 points and a fine for using a mobile telephone, or tablet, or any other form of interactive communication device used to play the game whilst driving.
- 3 – 9 Penalty points or a ban for careless or inconsiderate driving if playing the game causes your standard of driving to fall below that which is expected of a competent driver or if you failed to show reasonable consideration for other pedestrians or vehicles.
- A minimum 12 month disqualification from driving and possible prison sentence for dangerous driving if your standard of driving falls far below the standard expected of a competent driver; and It would be obvious to a competent driver that the manner of your driving would be dangerous. We think that any competent driver would conclude that playing Pokemon whilst driving would be dangerous!
The above legal consequences are of course nothing in comparison to the very real physical dangers that doing something so distracting whilst behind the wheel of a car would present to you and other motorists and pedestrians using the road.
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Article written by Expert Motoring Lawyer, Alison Ashworth; Managing Director of Ashworth Motoring Law Ltd.
The specialist Driving Offence Solicitors at Ashworth Motoring Law are experts in defending all types of Motoring Offence. From totting up, using a mobile phone whilst driving to drug driving, our Specialist Motoring Lawyers can help. If you have been charged with Driving Offence and would like to speak to a specialist Motoring Law solicitor about your case, call 0330 33 22 770 for free initial advice or email enquiries@ashworthmotoringlaw.co.uk.
