A total of 36 forces took part in the campaign in November stopping 10,012 vehicles and detecting nearly 8,000 mobile phone offences, the highest ever total for a week of enforcement on distraction driving.
More than 7,800 fixed penalty notices were issued as well as hundreds of verbal warnings given and 68 court summons.
Recent studies show use of mobile phones when driving is widespread and the risks drastically underestimated.
The first planned mobile phone enforcement campaign of 2017 will run from Monday 23 – Sunday 29 January. Throughout this week police forces will run targeted operations and education campaigns.
Inspector Sarah Smallwood, from the City of London Police, said:
“Locally, in the City of London, there has also been an increase in reports of obscured vision in vehicles due to mobile devices being fixed to the windscreen, a related problem. There is evidence to suggest that drivers with multiple devices such as phones or personal desk assistants (PDAs) are doing this.
“City Police’s Transport and Highways Operations Group will be supporting this national initiative, patrolling in both marked and unmarked cars, motorcycles and pedal cycles. The legislation covering these type of offences will be policed robustly.
“As hazards and driving conditions can change rapidly, it is important that motorists have a clear and unobstructed view of the road. If motorists need to have a mobile device mounted on their windscreen, this should be positioned to still allow a clear view of the road.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Suzette Davenport said:
“This week forces will be working to make driving distracted as socially unacceptable as drink driving through enforcing strong deterrents and powerful messages to make people think twice about their driving habits.
“Encouraging results from last year’s campaign against mobile phone use show how effective new tactics and innovative approaches can be. Officers will continue to use intelligence-led tactics to target police activity and resources and catch repeat offenders.
“Forces will be working throughout the year to tackle this behaviour by motorists with national partners and the public.
“Remember: when at the wheel, your calls or texts can wait. Keep your eyes on the road.”
