Peterborough drivers told not to use phone behind the wheel as police crackdown begins

Using a mobile phone while driving is a leading cause of collisions and many of those result in serious injury or death. Last year, more than a quarter of all collisions in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire involving a motorist using a mobile phone ended in fatality or serious injury.

Chief Inspector Stephen O’Keeffe, Head of the tri-force Roads Policing Unit, said: “You might think glancing down at your phone is ok, but not looking where you are driving is incredibly dangerous. At that moment you are not aware of what is happening around you. It only takes a second for circumstances to change and for you to be involved in a collision, either with another road user or a pedestrian.

“At a time when emergency services are under unprecedented strain, we must do everything in our power to look after ourselves and those around us. That includes not putting lives at risk by driving dangerously.”

It is recommended drivers put their phones on silent or better still, turn them off, and place them in the glove compartment before setting off. Motorists who use their phone while driving face a minimum £200 fine and six points on their license. These figures can be much higher if a case goes to court. Offenders who passed their test within two years will be automatically disqualified from driving and will need to take their DVLA test again.

Inspector Matt Snow said: “In addition to regular officers, those from the Special Constabulary will be patrolling hotspot areas across the county and will be stopping drivers who are breaking the law.”