DRIVERS who use their mobile phone at the wheel are the target of a police crackdown.
More than 400 drivers have been caught using their phone on Warwickshire’s roads since last March, leaving them facing a £200 fine and six points on their licence.
And between 2015 to 2017 there were 13 people seriously injured in crashes where use of a phone while driving was a factor.
To clamp down on phone use at the wheel, police officers, the Safer Roads Partnership and National Fire Chiefs Council are supporting the National Police Chiefs’ Council week of action.
Warwickshire Police’s Chief Con Martin Jelley said: “Motorists should already be aware that using a mobile phone while driving is illegal. This includes using your phone to follow a map, read a text or check social media, and applies even if you’re stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic.
“It is unacceptable to allow yourself to be distracted while driving, and officers will ensure any motorists doing so face the penalties involved.
“We are continuing to urge motorists to think about the consequences of their actions and ask themselves how they would feel if they caused a collision and injured, or killed, somebody else simply for the sake of making a call, reading a text message or checking social media.”
And community fire prevention manager Moreno Francioso is also urging people not to use their phone while in control of a vehicle.
He said: “Warwickshire Fire and Rescue has attended a number of road traffic collisions over the years in which the driver was using a mobile at the wheel. These kinds of accidents have led to tragic consequences in some cases and could easily been avoided if the motorist had their full attention on the road.
“Please make sure your phone is not able to distract you when driving, even just a few moments distraction could lead to a serious accident.”
