Police Issue Motorists Mobile Phone Warning

Police Issue Motorists Mobile Phone Warning

Avon and Somerset's Roads Policing Unit have voiced concern over motorists still using mobile phones while driving despite being just 2 days into a campaign to target motorists breaking road and traffic laws, officers have detected over 50 traffic related offences including using mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seat belt and speeding.

The week long campaign named Operation Vortex is part of a regional operation aimed to reduce the number of collisions and casualties on roads. Police have been carrying out patrols in unmarked cars on 'hot spot' roads across Avon and Somerset enforcing the law and offering road safety advice to drivers.

Sgt Mark Whitfield said "We have issued 15 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) over the last two days for using a mobile phone while driving. The number of drivers that still insist on using their mobile phone is worrying. It is inherently dangerous, reduces drivers' concentration and will inevitability lead to a collision. Research has shown that mobile phone use reduces a driver's reaction time by over a third when using or texting on a phone. The use of plain patrol cars is essential in detecting mobile phone offences, as those who habitually use a phone whilst driving will immediately hide it on seeing a marked car.

Personally I think it should last longer than a week though.