Tougher penalties for using mobiles

HALTON motorists who drive while using handheld mobile devices have been warned they face double the penalty under incoming legislation.

Cheshire police said driver should be aware of the dangers of using their phone while driving and the consequences under laws coming into force in March.

Officers from the constabulary’s Road Policing Team are taking part in a national operation targeting motorists who break the law by using their handheld device.

Under the legislation, anyone who is caught driving while using a handheld phone will receive six penalty points and a £200 fine, up from the existing three penalty points and £100 fine.

Offending drivers will no longer be offered the opportunity to complete the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) training course as an alternative to receiving points on their licence.

A Cheshire Constabulary spokeswoman said the biggest impact will be felt among young drivers and those who have passed their tests within the past two years who from March will be at risk of having their driving licence revoked following their first offence.

Inspector Steve Griffiths, of Cheshire’s Roads Policing Team, said: “As a senior investigator, I have dealt with many serious and fatal collisions, and in recent years I’ve found that increasingly more of these incidents have involved mobile phones.

“Motorists are four times more likely to crash if using a mobile phone while driving. “Using a handheld mobile device can make drivers less aware of what is happening on the road – they could fail to see road signs, react more slowly and take longer to brake.

“It is vital that we educate motorists on the dangers of driving while using a handheld mobile device, and the impact this new legislation will have on those who continue to flout the law.”

David Keane, Cheshire Police And Crime Commissioner, said: “Driving distracted should be seen as socially unacceptable as drink driving and road safety is one of my policing priorities.

“I am really pleased to see the work that the roads policing team is undertaking to help make Cheshire’s roads safer.”

Throughout the week long operation officers will be increasing patrols, working with local authorities and issuing messages through the @CheshirePolice and @CheshPolTaskforce social media accounts.