Police patrols on the tail of mobile menaces

Reporter ROBBIE GILL joins police as the force runs a five-day operation to crack down on drivers who use their mobile phone while driving.

DURING a patrol with traffic cop PC Adam Magee, I saw three drivers - of two vans and a pick-up - using a phone at the wheel. All three were apologetic and were given cautions.

Van drivers had a higher overall rate of mobile phone use in England and Scotland than car drivers in 2014.

Insp Tony Allt of GMP’s Road Traffic Unit said: “We are actively engaging in a national campaign to target driver distraction. While this is largely focused on mobile phone users, other distractions can include things such as eating at the wheel, applying make-up or programming a sat-nav. The consequences of driver distraction can be devastating - and are often completely avoidable.”

The Chronicle launched its own Mobile Menace campaign in 2006, when the law was changed to make it an offence to use a phone while driving.

Our photographers recently positioned themselves on the former Mumps roundabout and pictured many motorists flouting the law.

Road patrols by police have been cut by almost a quarter over the past five years. Spot checks have shown that offending has risen by 14 per cent over the last six years, despite several campaigns.

The worst offenders are those aged under 30 with more than one in 20 breaking the law, with the majority surfing the web or texting.

Insp Allt added: “Though part of our core business within roads policing, few offences generate such public displeasure as these and our aim this week is to both enforce and educate.

“We highly recommend switching off or silencing mobile phones while on the move. If you do need to make that call, pull over in a safe place before doing so.”