8,000 drivers caught using mobiles in one week

Almost 8,000 drivers were caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel during a police crackdown in November.  

Last year the Department for Transport (DfT) announced plans to double the punishment for using a mobile phone while driving.

Road safety charity Brake says the use of mobiles is a growing menace, especially as devices become more sophisticated.

Campaigns director Gary Rae said: “We welcome this crackdown by police forces. The law needs to be much tougher with this type of offence, which appears to be growing in numbers. Younger drivers, especially those aged between 25 and 34, simply aren’t getting the message about the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving. Doing any other complex task while driving hugely increases your chance of crashing. These drivers are putting their own and other people’s lives in grave danger by taking this risk. If a phone has to be used as a sat nav, it must be programmed before setting off on the journey and properly secured. There is no other acceptable way to use a phone while driving.”

Under the proposals drivers caught using a phone while driving would be given a six-point penalty and given a minimum fine of £200.