Dangerous and careless motorists face a crackdown with the launch of a national mobile phone enforcement campaign by police and the release of new court guidelines for sentencing speeding drivers this week.

 

Throughout the week police forces are running targeted operations and education campaigns aimed at discouraging drivers from using their mobile phones while at the wheel.

 

This comes after a similar exercise in November detected nearly 8000 mobile phone offences around the country – the highest ever total for a week of enforcement on distracted driving. More than 7800 fixed penalty notices were issued as well as 68 court summons.

 

“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,” said the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for roads policing Chief Constable Suzette Davenport.

 

Operations will include patrols using unmarked vans, watching from high vantage points and using helmet cams to catch offenders. There will also be partnership working with local authorities and emergency services to educate people against taking risks on the road.

 

Officers will also be advising the public about upcoming changes to sentences for those caught using their mobile phone while driving, which will see the current penalty doubled to £200 and six penalty points from 1 March.

 

Meanwhile the severity of penalties issued to speeding drivers is set to increase from 24 April after the Sentencing Council issued revised guidelines for magistrates’ courts in England and Wales this week.

 

The measures will see fines for those caught driving well above the speed limit – for example travelling at over 66MPH in a 40MPH zone – handed fines starting at 150% of their weekly income.

 

The Transport Select Committee, which last year criticised a decline in specialist road traffic officers able to detect speeding offences, welcomed the new guidelines. However committee chair Louise Ellman said: “For enforcement to be successful, there must be the likelihood that offenders will be caught and prosecuted.

 

“Government, in considering how to reduce road casualties, should identify where drivers are exceeding the speed limit in particularly dangerous areas. Police should be supported to deploy specialist roads officers in those locations. Education campaigns are also a vital part of reinforcing the message about reducing speed on our roads.”