Durham Police2018-03-19T12:00:58+00:00

Durham Constabulary – Helping to make our roads safer

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg

902, 2018

Lives still being put at risk despite increased penalties for drivers using phones

Police across Cleveland and Durham are taking part in a national a clampdown on drivers using their mobile phones, beginning Monday 22nd January. The week-long crackdown will take place ten months after the introduction of new legislation which means that drivers using a phone whilst at the wheel will receive six points on their licences and a £200 fine. Since the introduction of the new laws on 1st March 2017, officers across Cleveland and Durham issued 454 tickets, compared to 698 tickets issued during the same period in 2016. The tickets were issued for offences of using a mobile phone whilst driving, a supervisor of a provisional licence holder using a mobile phone and the driver not being in proper control of a vehicle. Throughout the campaign, patrols will be dedicated to identifying and educating those risking their lives and the lives of other innocent road users by committing these offences. Research has found that being distracted by a phone while driving, regardless of whether it is being used to make calls, messages or going online can make a driver up to 25 times more likely to be involved in a collision. Chief Inspector Graham Milne, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: "Calling, texting, using social media or recording videos from phones whilst driving are all examples of offences we have dealt with and these actions do put innocent road users lives at serious risk. "It is worrying that whilst the figures have dropped this year, some drivers are still willing to use a mobile phone whilst driving, despite the increased penalties brought in last year. "This type of offence carries as much risk as driving whilst intoxicated by drink or drugs or not wearing a seatbelt and it should be just as socially unacceptable. "Drivers need [...]

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