DRIVERS who used their phones to capture traffic chaos on a Warwickshire motorway could face prosecution.
A lorry crashed into the support pillar of a bridge on the M40 near Warwick on Friday morning – overturning and spilling 27 tonnes of animal feed onto the carriageway which caused long delays.
At least 80 drivers were captured on camera themselves taking photos on handheld phones as they passed by, prompting a stern warning from Warwickshire Police, which is sending letters to them informing them they could face a fine of £100 and points on their license.
Insp Lucy Sewell told The Observer: “We would like to remind people that it is an offence to use a handheld device such as a phone while driving, it distracts you and greatly reduces your reaction time.
“In this case, it made the already severe delays even worse for drivers behind them.
“If we identify people using a handheld device while driving we will take action.”
One lane remained closed in both directions into the early hours of Saturday morning while emergency repairs were carried out to the bridge.
The driver of the lorry, a man in his 30s, suffered a leg injury and was taken to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.
Two other lorry drivers involved in the crash were assessed at the scene. One was uninjured and the other refused hospital treatment for back pain.
Visit www.warwickshire.police.uk/article/8683/Mobile-phones-and-driving for more information on road safety and the consequences of using mobile devices while driving.
