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It's one of the so-called ‘fatal four’ – one of the most dangerous things people can do while driving and one of the most common causes of road accidents.
But using a mobile phone while behind the wheel is still widespread, and police have been making a stand as part of a national campaign.
West Mercia Police is one of the forces nationwide that supported the National Police Chief’s Council in a week of action.
Officers up and down the country have been targeting those who use their mobiles while driving over the past week, raising awareness of the dangers this can cause.
The penalty for holding and using a phone while driving was raised in March 2017 to six points on your licence and a £200 fine.
Figures today reveal that, by the end of Thursday, officers across the West Mercia Police area had stopped 48 motorists for being on their phone. And since the penalty was increased last year, 1,268 people have been caught using their phones on the roads.
Today the Shropshire Star launches a survey on your attitudes to using a phone while driving, gauging views on an issue that has become a higher-profile road crime in recent years.
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One of those taking part in the week-long crackdown was Pc Nick Stafford of West Mercia’s collision investigation squad. Speaking as he went on a patrol on the lookout for mobile phone drivers he said: “Everyone is actively looking out for mobile phone use as part of the campaign.
“We’re trying to educate people more than prosecute wherever we can. Education is the key point of the national campaign. I’ve been in collision investigation for 10 years and people not paying attention has been a big factor in crashes.
“I have seen people lose their lives in crashes because other people have been distracted by their mobile phones.”
On the patrol on Friday, Pc Stafford stopped a driver for failing to conform to a keep left bollard, and he was later found to be driving without insurance and under the influence of drugs. Despite the arrest, Pc Stafford said the scarcity of drivers seen on their mobiles was encouraging.
He said: “If we don’t get anyone using their phone that’s good and shows that the majority of motorists are following the rules. Most people are calm, kind and considerate on the roads. We would much rather go out and see nobody using their phones than have to arrest 10 people for doing it.”
West Mercia Police superintendent Paul Moxley oversaw the operation, and he was full of praise for the officers raising awareness. He said: “This is some fine work by our officers targeting those putting, not just themselves, but other people at serious risk of injury and potentially far worse.
“The hope is this deters such reckless driving and means in the future people will put their phones in their glove box or bag – and never drive distracted.”
West Mercia Police chief constable Anthony Bangham says there is still more work to be done.
He said: “Driving while distracted by a mobile phone is completely unacceptable and puts everyone on the roads at risk of serious harm.
“We are making use of the tougher penalties to clamp down on this dangerous behaviour – but we have to be clear that when you get behind the wheel it is your responsibility to stay focused and alert.
“It’s concerning that we still have drivers out there who are willing to risk driving whilst distracted and it is a year round commitment for us to challenge this behaviour across West Mercia.”
Research by the BMJ concluded that using a mobile phone even 10 minutes before a crash increased the likelihood of an accident four fold. The report also made the assertion that using hands-free phone systems, which are legal, also increased the risk.
Organisations including Shropshire Fire and Rescue and the Safer Roads Partnership also put their weight behind the campaign.
Station manager James Bainbridge, from Shropshire Fire and Rescue, said: “It takes no more than a moment of distraction for an accident to occur that is capable of causing serious life changing injuries and death – not only to the driver/phone user, but also to their passengers and other innocent road users.”
The fatal four behaviours that that PC Nick Stafford says increase the risk of accidents are mobile phone use, drinking and drugs, not wearing a seatbelt and inappropriate speed.
