Jeremy Vine calls for ‘kill switches’ on cars so cyclists ‘can bring offending drivers to an immediate halt’
Broadcaster Jeremy Vine is calling for radical changes to the design of vehicles to allow cyclists to “kill” the engine of a car if they are breaking road rules.
Taking to social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, Jeremy Vine claimed he saw a driver on a London road using “two phones at once”.
He said: “It is time for cars to have a kill switch on the outside at the rear so people on bicycles can bring offending drivers to an immediate halt.”
The video shows Vine cycling on London roads, before pulling up beside a blue SUV after he claims it had “run a red light”. He caught up to the vehicle and filmed the driver appearing to use two devices while waiting in traffic.
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Vine added: “How many phones does a person need? She’s got two on the go. Cars should have an emergency button on the outside so a passer-by who sees this level of danger can disable the vehicle without having to engage with the offending driver.”
The post was met with mixed responses, with one commenter questioning whether “switches should be put on everything so cyclists can fulfil their moral high-ground emotional needs”.
Vine responded, calling the proposal “a bit extreme” while calling out other social media users for “praising lawbreaking” by defending the vehicle owner.
Another commenter said: “Driver went through a red light and is in the wrong fair but your idea about a kill switch is ludicrous and can easily be abused.”
A third person added: “Can we push cyclists off their bike if they go through a red light or use the pavement to shortcut junctions?
“If bikes want to be on the road should they not be insured the same as cars? Not defending driving using a mobile phone one bit but you’re so anti-car it’s embarrassing.”
Other respondents to the post suggested that instead of a “kill switch”, cars should be fitted with a “mobile blocker” while the engine is running as part of their motor insurance policy.
Data from the Department for Transport shows that 17 people were killed, 114 people were seriously injured, and 385 were slightly injured in road traffic accidents in Great Britain where the driver was using a mobile phone.
Drivers can be slapped with a £200 fine and receive six penalty points on their licence if they hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send and receive data while driving or riding a motorcycle.
Younger motorists who have passed their practical driving test in the last two years could even lose their licence if they are caught using a mobile device.
Drivers can also receive three penalty points if they do not have a full view of the road and traffic ahead. The punishment could be given out if the driver has a sat nav in a bad position on their windscreen.
If the case is escalated to court action, someone could be banned from driving or riding and receive a maximum fine of £1,000 or £2,500 if they are driving a lorry or bus.
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Punishments were strengthened for the use of a mobile phone in March 2022 following a consultation in which 80 per cent of people backed plans to expand the offence.
The offence now means that “using a phone” will now include:
Illuminating the screenChecking the timeChecking notificationsUnlocking the deviceMaking, receiving, or rejecting a telephone or internet-based callSending, receiving or uploading oral or written contentSending, receiving or uploading a photo or videoUtilising a camera, video, or sound recordingDrafting any textAccessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messagesAccessing an appAccessing the internet