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Story URL: http://management.silicon.com/government/0,39024677,39119716,00.htm

London to be exempt from mobile driving ban?
Londoners 'too important' to be banned from using mobiles behind the wheel...

By Will Sturgeon

Published: Thursday 01 April 2004

MPs are discussing a revision to the recent ban on driving while holding a mobile phone which would see Londoners driving within the capital exempted from fines and other penalties.

A number of reasons, including difficulty in policing the ban for London's millions of road users and the fact that traffic in London rarely moves fast enough to be dangerous due to heavy congestion have been cited by lobbyists.

One MP told silicon.com off the record that another important issue should be considered - the fact that mobile phone calls in the capital are likely to be far more important than ones being made elsewhere.

"London is the financial heart of Britain. Who is to say that a driver on a mobile phone isn't sealing a deal which will benefit the whole country?" he said.

"Are you telling me that a businessman in London should just let his phone ring and miss out on a million pound deal just because of this legislation?" he added. "These people aren't farmers or parents on the school run - these people are brokering the deals which will put the Great back into Great Britain."

However, talk of the exemption is proving unpopular outside the capital.

James Watson, founder of lobby group Rural Matters, said: "This is just another example of one rule for London and another for the rest of us. If this amendment goes through then it sets a very dangerous precedent."