Police crack down on drivers using mobile phones

A total of 77 drivers were stopped and handed tough new penalties as part of a week of action to catch motorists using mobile phones behind the wheel.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Mar 2017, 08:48 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 11:08 BST
Some 77 drivers were caught using their phone behind the wheel.Some 77 drivers were caught using their phone behind the wheel.
Some 77 drivers were caught using their phone behind the wheel.

Amongst those now facing increased fines and penalty points was a driver who stated he did not know how to work his built in hands free kit and a HGV driver caught texting. In addition, a tradesman who already had 8 points on his licence now faces the prospect of being disqualified at court for exceeding the 12 point maximum.During the week long operation, Match 1st -7th, officers targeted major trunk roads and areas where concerns had previously been raised by local communities, to enforce the law, prevent offending and educate those who continue to disregard the safety of other road users.Marked and un-marked police vehicles were used to identify possible offenders, checkpoints were implemented across the county and officers responded to complaints about persistent offenders.Targeting this type of unacceptable behaviour on Lancashire’s roads was part of a wider national campaign to clamp down on mobile phone use while driving. It also coincided with the implementation of increased penalties for the offence, which are now set at six points and a £200 fine. As well as the 77 caught using their phones, a further 53 people were caught travelling without wearing a seatbelt including a driver with two young children in the car. A total of 52 vehicles were seized from the roadside for a range of reasons including no insurance or no diving licence. Officers along with a Mobile Camera Van Technicians also detected over 200 speeding offences across the county.

Chief Inspector Damian Kitchen said: “We engaged widely with the public last week, through local radio, social media and check sites. The overwhelming feedback is that the public are extremely supportive of the increased penalties and focus on this offence. Indeed a large number advocated bigger fines and penalties.“The detection of not only so many phone offences, but other offences such as seatbelts and speed offences shows that we still have work to do. The Lancashire Road Safety Partnership is committed through education, engagement and if needed enforcement to drive down casualties ‘towards zero’ on our roads.“Some of the people caught now face not only increased insurance premiums, but in some cases the potential of losing their jobs. I would rather we catch nobody and see this offence become a thing of the past. This is not about fines and points, it’s about stopping people getting injured on our roads.”