Cameras catch drivers using phones

POSED BY MODEL

File photo dated 23/07/06 of a woman using his mobile phone while driving as fiercer fines are failing to stop motorists using hand-held mobile phones while driving, figures show. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday December 12, 2011. The number of offenders is now higher than the year just before harsher penalties were introduced, the statistics revealed. There were at least 171,000 fixed penalty notices (FPN) for mobile phone offences in 2010/11, according to Freedom of Information requests made to England and Wales police forces by insurance company swiftcover.com. With two of the 43 forces yet to respond, the 2010/11 figure was higher than the 166,800 total in 2006 - the year before the fine was doubled, with the threat of points going on to licences of offending drivers. The latest total was also more than double the figure of 74,000 in 2004. Swiftcover reported that Thames Valley Police had had an FPN increase of 21% in 2010/11 compared with 2009/10. Other increases included Hamp — POSED BY MODEL File photo dated 23/07/06 of a woman using his mobile phone while driving as fiercer fines are failing to stop motorists using hand-held mobile phones while driving, figures show. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday December 12, 2011. The number of offenders is now higher than the year just before harsher penalties were introduced, the statistics revealed. There were at least 171,000 fixed penalty notices (FPN) for mobile phone offences in 2010/11, according to Freedom of Information requests made to England and Wales police forces by insurance company swiftcover.com. With two of the 43 forces yet to respond, the 2010/11 figure was higher than the 166,800 total in 2006 - the year before the fine was doubled, with the threat of points going on to licences of offending drivers. The latest total was also more than double the figure of 74,000 in 2004. Swiftcover reported that Thames Valley Police had had an FPN increase of 21% in 2010/11 compared with 2009/10. Other increases included Hamp

The new move enables camera technicians to detect speeding offences and also when motorists illegally use mobile phones.

Drivers will face fines and where eligible offered ‘What’s Driving Us?’ diversionary course

Lancashire Constabulary’s assistant chief constable, Tim Jacques, who is also chair of the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety executive board, said: “Sadly we see too many drivers illegally using their mobile phones for calls or even worse texting when they are driving.

“Our aim is to change the behaviour of those who illegally use a phone or don’t wear a seat belt.”

Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, John Fillis, added: “There appears to be an increasing problem with those who think it’s acceptable to put other priorities ahead of their and other people’s safety.

“However there’s absolutely no excuse and I hope this new development in police mobile enforcement provides a deterrent to those drivers who have clearly not considered the potential consequences of taking their attention off the road.