Warwickshire Police urging the public not to use a hand held mobile phone whilst driving

Warwickshire Police is urging the public not to be tempted to use a hand held mobile phone whilst driving as part of a national campaign aimed at changing driver behaviours and highlighting the consequences.

It is not only illegal to use a hand held mobile phone whilst driving or while stopped with the engine on, but it is also one of the ‘fatal 4’ factors that contribute towards death and injury on roads alongside not wearing a seatbelt, drink and drug driving and speeding.

The RAC 2020 Report on Motoring has identified handheld mobile phone use by other drivers was the second biggest driver concern in 2020.

Fortunately the majority of people do not use their mobile phone whilst driving, however there is still a dangerous minority who do.

Inspector Jem Mountford said: “We are seeing a worrying shift in attitudes to mobile phone use behind the wheel and this is raising many safety concerns.

“We are seeing more drivers looking down to use a handheld mobile phone to use social media apps, select music, check emails or texting while driving when they should be focusing on the road ahead.

"We are asking these drivers to consider how their actions could affect themselves and other people.

“Whoever you are texting or calling, whether parents, family, or friends, they would not want you to have a collision potentially injuring yourself or someone else.”

In Warwickshire, using a mobile phone whilst driving was a contributory factor in five serious collisions in 2019 and two serious collisions in 2020, (provisional data).

The majority of locations were in the south of the county.

There are also financial consequences as using a mobile phone whilst driving attracts six points and a £200 fine and even if you are using a mobile phone legally, if you are driving whilst not being in proper control of your vehicle drivers could face three points and £100 fine.

In Warwickshire during 2019, 390 drivers received fixed penalty notices for driving whilst using a mobile phone and in 2020 despite lockdown, 267 notices were issued to drivers.

Warwickshire Police is urging motorists to put their phone out of sight in a bag or glove box or the boot when they are driving so they don’t get tempted to check it or they should switch the phone off.

Whilst legal, hands free use is just as distracting as handheld phone use and should be avoided wherever possible.

It’s not just mobile phones that can distract motorists - changing the channel on the radio, chatting to a passenger, and having children in the car can all hinder your concentration when driving.

Driving whilst distracted was identified as a contributory factor in five serious collisions and one fatal collision in 2019.

Despite lockdown in 2020, driving whilst distracted was a contributory factor in eight serious collisions and one fatal collision (provisional data).

Being stopped by Warwickshire Police isn’t the only way motorists can get caught for using your mobile phone whilst driving.

Warwickshire Police is also asking the public to submit any dashcam or GoPro footage they have captured as evidence that could be used to prosecute someone for using a phone whilst driving to Operation Snap.

For more information on Operation Snap go to: https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/police-forces/warwickshire-police/areas/warwickshire-police/campaigns/campaigns/2019/operation-snap/To follow the campaign on social media use the hashtag #StandingupForHangingUp