The police are cracking down on drivers who use mobile phones behind the wheel warning first time offenders could face a £200 fine and six points on their licence.
Motorists who consistently use their mobile phone while driving and are found guilty could be hit with a lengthy ban and a fine of up to £1,000.
The tightening by Northumbria Police follows a three-week operation led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council which looks to actively target offenders who use their phones.
From January 2023 until last month, officers recorded a total of 1,163 mobile phone-related driving offences across the Northumbria area.
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Police forces have been launching initiatives aimed at slashing phone use at the wheel
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The initiative, which is being run in conjunction with the council, intends to remind road users of the dangers of calling, texting, or using the internet while driving and the penalties for breaking the law.
A similar project launched by The Road Safety Trust found that using a hands-free device poses just as much risk as a mobile phone when driving.
Sergeant Glen Robson, of Northumbria Police, said: “Mobile phones have become an essential part of almost all of our lives, but that is no excuse for using them behind the wheel.
“Drivers need to give the road ahead their full attention, and distractions from devices undermine their safety as well as the safety of all other road users.
“Hands-free devices are seen as a safe alternative, but this is simply not always the case. We would encourage all motorists to view their vehicles as flight cabins, and to switch all devices on to airplane mode.
“Any and all mobile phone usage can wait until the car is safely parked with the engine switched off.”
Motorists who have passed their test within the last two years risk having their licence revoked if they are caught on their phones.
Prosecutions for using a mobile phone behind the wheel can also prove costly for drivers when it comes to insurance premiums.
Mobile phone laws were toughened in 2022 to make it an offence whenever a driver holds and uses a device, regardless of why they are doing so.
However, there are exemptions for using a mobile device. These include emergencies or while trying to make a contactless payment at a drive-through for goods or services, although the vehicle would need to be stationary.
Ruth Purdie, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, explained how evidence from the research showed the danger hands-free devices have.
She commented: “The cognitive distraction can increase crash risk, reduce hazard detection, and lead to poor situational awareness.
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First time offenders could face a £200 fine and six points on their licence
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“Therefore, it is vital, as this report highlights, that police officers are not recommending hands-free as a safe alternative to illegally using a hands-free device.”
Purdie added how she hopes this project could shine a light on the issue and provide officers the guidance they need when encountering offenders.
While it is illegal to use a phone and drive, there is no law preventing a hands-free device from being used.