Don’t put everyone at risk, warn police

Police are warning drivers that using their mobile phones while driving is putting all motorists at risk.

Inspector Graham Conner, from Motherwell’s Road Policing Unit, believes drivers should not take a chance when they get behind the wheel, whether it’s to send a text or make a call.

After the new figures revealed that almost 2000 people have been stopped on the region’s road for mobile phone offences in the past three years, Inspector Conner gave a stark warning.

He said:“Driving requires your full attention.

“It is absolutely essential that people concentrate on their driving rather than talking on or using their mobile phone.

“At the end of the day, is the call that important that it’s worth risking your life for?

“I cannot emphasise enough the grave risk people are putting themselves and other road users in by not concentrating when driving in their cars.

“People seem to think it will not happen to them but it can and it will. You could either be the victim or the one who causes a crash or a death. “My advice is don’t risk it.” Many drivers are also unaware that even when a car is stationary at traffic lights with the engine running, they are still committing an offence by checking their phone.

Inspector Conner believes other dangers such as radios and sat-navs must also try and be avoided.

He added:“Better to switch the phone off and pick up any missed calls or texts when it is safe and convenient to do so. Adjusting sat-navs, stereos or any in-car technology distracts you from your driving and the reality is, that split-second distraction could have fatal consequences.”