Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit will be supporting a campaign from the National Police Chiefs’ Council that raises awareness of the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving.
Using a mobile phone at the wheel is 1 of the ‘fatal four’ factors that can significantly increase your chances of being involved in a collision where you or others are seriously injured or killed on our roads. The other three causes are speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
As part of this national campaign, proactive patrols and safety checks will be carried out across the Island’s road network to catch drivers risking their lives and the lives of other motorists by using their phone while driving.
Aside from the devastating consequences of a collision, drivers using a mobile phone whilst driving face a £200 fine and 6 points on their licence for a one-time offence, to a lengthy ban and a £1,000 fine for those caught twice.
New drivers – those who have passed within 2 years of being caught – face having their licence revoked if caught just once.
Chief Inspector Chris Spellerberg, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said:
“Using a mobile phone while driving is unacceptable, reckless and incredibly dangerous. Just being distracted from the road ahead of you for a split second could result in a serious crash.
“You are far more likely to be involved in a serious injury or fatal collision if you use your phone while driving. Focusing on the road and traffic conditions is always more important than using a mobile phone.
Article continues below this advertisement “Even hands free devices can be distracting enough to divert your attention away at a critical moment.”
How about sitting outside McDonald’s in Ryde and give tickets out to all the people that turn right out of there clearly a sign saying no right turn
Or jumping the red lights at Coppins Bridge
Most likely that is not an official sign. I would expect a lot most signage if it was official.
As it looks to me like it’s on private land it’s probably not enforceable. But, even if it were an official sign, you’d still get fools who would ignore it, because obviously it’s just too much effort to turn left and drive the 100 metres to the roundabout.
That’s a sign McDonalds put in as part of thier planning permission and not legally binding.
Not only should police be targeting mobile phone use at the wheel but they should also be on the look out for the irresponsible passengers sat in front seat with a unharnessed dog on their lap. Potentially in a head on collision, their beloved pet becomes a cute ‘n’ fluffy ‘air-bag’ with the added danger of crushing both passenger and dog to death.
Or driving round with an unrestrained dog jumping around inside their car.
Likelihood of having Fido surgically removed after the airbag deploys and rams him halfway down Doris’ throat.
Why aren’t they targeting the feral brats causing problems every night in every town, and setting traps for the head case that keeps setting fire to people’s vans and causing criminal damage. Always the the easy bait motorist. They need to sit at Ryde Esplanade and nick all the roaring boy racers defying the speed limit with pop pop exhausts disturbing the piece all night and taxi’s driving through the no entry sign. NEVER where they are most needed, but ALWAYS bloody there when they aren’t.
Yes motorists are an easy target.
But only because we don’t follow a simple set of rules,called the highway code.
Where fools to ourselves.
I have long thought that touch screens need to be banned in cars. Not just on mobile phones, etc, but on built-in devices, too,
The reason is that a physical button needs positive pressure to activate it. As soon as your finger is on it your eyes are back on the road and if your finger alights on the wrong button because of the movement of the car you can quickly find the right one by touch.
With a touch screen the virtual button is activated as soon as you touch it. That means you have to put your finger on it right first time. Trouble is your finger is bobbing around due to the movement of the vehicle so lining up your finger on the touch button takes much longer. You can’t just put your finger on the row of buttons and slide it.
It already is illegal to use a touch screen while driving. You are only supposed to operate them while stationary, not that the law is ever enforced (like all laws). It doesn’t help that manufacturers are making everything inside a car touch screen operated, like air conditioning, temperature and heater adjustments.
It’s not illegal as long as it isn’t handheld.
Rubbish. If you are caught using a touch screen while your car is moving you can be fined and given 3 points on your licence. Try doing some research.