Taron Egerton reported to police after using phone in traffic
Actor Taron Egerton was filmed looking at a mobile phone while driving in slow traffic in west London, then told cyclist and YouTuber Mike Van Erp that he had been stuck in traffic. Van Erp said this was no excuse and reported him to police; the incident highlights that using a handheld phone is prohibited even when a vehicle is queuing.
The incident reportedly took place in Hyde Park last October, and Van Erp said police responded that a Notice of Prosecution had been issued. The offence can carry six penalty points and a £200 fine, with higher penalties possible if dealt with in court. Van Erp says he has filmed more than 2,000 drivers since 2006, including other public figures.
- Taron Egerton was filmed looking at his phone in traffic.
- He told the cyclist he had been stuck in traffic.
- Police reportedly issued a Notice of Prosecution.
New here? Start with this
Taron Egerton is a British actor known for films including the Kingsman series and Rocketman. The incident concerns the rules on using a mobile phone while driving, including when traffic is moving slowly or has stopped in a queue.
In the UK, drivers must not hold and use a phone while driving; being stuck in traffic does not make it permissible. Cyclist and YouTuber Mike Van Erp has filmed motorists using phones and reported some to police. A breach can lead to penalty points and a fine, and more serious cases may be dealt with in court.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Reporting the incident can be defended as holding a public figure to the same road-safety rules as anyone else. A vehicle in a queue is still in traffic, and enforcing the ban on handheld phone use may help deter behaviour that can distract drivers and endanger others.
The case against
A reasonable concern is that filming and reporting individual drivers can become a form of public shaming, especially when the footage circulates beyond the authorities. People may argue that enforcement should rely on proportionate, consistent police processes, with context and evidence assessed fairly rather than public exposure driving the response.
Americas Celebrity Entertainment Trending Weird & Viral World
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Moment Highway Code vigilante CyclingMikey catches Taron Egerton using his phone behind the wheel”.