CC Of Greater Manchester Police Welcomes Crackdown On Using Mobile Phone When Driving

Monday, 14 November 2016 11:34

Using a mobile phone when driving is the same as drink driving and must be stopped now, according to the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was speaking at the launch of a major operation to catch those who disregard the safety of other road users. The initiative will see officers targeting the main routes around Greater Manchester to enforce the law and educate drivers.

From Monday 14 November officers will be using undercover and marked police vehicles to catch people and the operation will continue throughout the coming weeks and in the run up to Christmas. It is supporting a national week of action to highlight the risks and make people aware of the serious penalties that they will face.

Ian said: “It is time for drivers to take personal responsibility for what they do when in charge of a vehicle. The consequences of using a mobile while behind the wheel are huge and can lead to people being seriously injured or killed. It leaves families devastated and we must stop it now.”

From next year, new penalties will be in place seeing drivers get six points on their licence and a £200 spot fine for using a mobile phone while driving.

More than 5,000 drivers in Greater Manchester have been given fixed penalty notices or sent on a mobile phone awareness course in the past two years. Traffic officers believe those numbers are just the tip of the iceberg with an increasing number of people being spotted driving and using their mobile phones.

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