Campaign Targets Motorists Who Use Phones Whilst Driving

The four police forces in Wales, led by Gwent Police and in partnership with Road Safety Wales, are launching a major crackdown on motorists who use mobile phones whilst driving. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The All Wales enforcement campaign will run from Monday 7th November until Sunday 20th November and is urging all road users to ‘keep their eyes on the road’ and not be distracted by their mobile phones. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the campaign, officers will be speaking to drivers about the dangers of using mobile phones when driving and also about the dangers of being distracted behind the wheel. Officers will be stopping motorists seen using their mobile phones whilst driving and any offenders can expect a £100 fine and three points on their licence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nationally, the numbers of motorists using mobile phones to make calls, texts or social media updates whilst driving has risen and distracted driving is expected to be the biggest single cause of death and injuries on roads as a result in 2016. In Wales more than 500 motorists were caught using their mobile phones whilst behind the wheel during the 2015 campaign. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing from North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit said: “Even experienced and competent drivers can be easily distracted and a slight lapse in concentration can have serious consequences. Smart phones are a key part of modern life and we are also seeing drivers being distracted whilst checking social media, reading their emails or accessing the internet. Drivers need to be aware that these actions carry the same danger and the same penalty. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our main message is clear; keep your eyes on the road. A lapse in concentration when driving can be devastating and this is why officers from all four Welsh forces will be carrying out proactive patrols to target motorists who endanger road users in this way.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We recently launched our #OpSnap campaign, an initiative which allows video submissions and photographic evidence to be sent to us from people who have witnessed driving offences. Over recent months we have received footage capturing motoring offences including careless and dangerous driving, people on mobile telephones and people being distracted whilst using their smart devices behind the wheel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We recognises that the vast majority of the public want to use the road network to get from A to B safely; and that they don’t wish to tolerate unnecessary risks that some are exposed to by the actions of others.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chair of Road Safety Wales Susan Storch said: “Driving a vehicle requires us to multi-task so anything above and beyond that needs to wait until we are safely parked up or until our journey has finished.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Campaigns such as this demonstrate the resolve of all the Road Safety Wales partners in tackling this issue and we will continue to work together to drive home the message of not using your mobile phone behind the wheel. No call or text is that important.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

North Wales Police will be updating social media with advice and guidance throughout the campaign and campaign material can be found using the hashtag #eyesontheroad. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Advice: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Don’t make or answer calls when you’re driving. All phone calls distract drivers’ attention from the road. You can pick up any missed calls or texts when it is safe and convenient to do so. If you need to use the phone when driving, then stop at the first safe opportunity.
• It’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile when driving on the road even if you’ve stopped at traffic lights or are stuck in a traffic jam or are in a car park. All these situations are covered by the legal definition of ‘driving on the road’.
• Be aware that if you get just 6 points in the first two years after passing your test, you will lose your licence.
• Drivers of buses or goods vehicles could get a maximum fine of £2,500.
• Park safely before using your mobile phone. Do not park on the hard shoulder of the motorway.
• Don’t call other people when they’re driving. If you call someone and they tell you they are driving, ask them to call you back when they have parked up safely.