Drivers using mobiles the target of police crackdown

6:08pm Monday 7th January 2013 in News

Driver using mobiles will be targeted as part of a police crackdown. Driver using mobiles will be targeted as part of a police crackdown.

UNMARKED police cars are being stationed in St Helens as part of a crackdown on drivers using mobile phones.

The campaign comes after it was revealed 4,776 people were fined for the offence on Merseyside’s roads last year (January to November 30, 2012).

Traffic police will also be targeting drivers for failing to wear seat belts after 6,359 motorists were handed fixed notice penalties in 2012.

Throughout January officers will be located at various spots in St Helens as they fire out warnings that both offences can contribute to serious road traffic collisions.

Sergeant Paul Mountford said: "This week will see more cars on our roads as people return to work and children go back to school and I appeal to drivers to be aware of your responsibilities on the roads.

"A lack of concentration because you are using your mobile phone can have severe consequences for yourself and others and by simply spending two to three seconds putting on a seat belt you greatly reduce the risk of serious injury if involved in a crash.

"During January we are adopting a zero tolerance approach and will be targeting hot spot areas to crackdown on drivers committing these type of offences.

“Our officers will be on the roads in unmarked cars so I urge you to drive responsibly."

Anyone found using a mobile phone while driving or not wearing their seatbelt is liable for a £60 fine and three penalty points.

If a driver is found to have been using a mobile phone at the time of a collision they could be charged with dangerous driving.

Comments(18)

Ding dang doo says...
7:22pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Position them outside the schools so the lazy people parking on zig zags can be caught out too !!!

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quizling says...
9:13pm Mon 7 Jan 13

and collar the drivers who drive at 20mph in a thirty limit! it causes frustration which can lead to incidents,because some people have a job to do,not poodle around town holding folk up while they nip for a paper or summat, and believe it or not ,men who wear flat caps are the worse

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norm says...
9:24pm Mon 7 Jan 13

quizling wrote:
and collar the drivers who drive at 20mph in a thirty limit! it causes frustration which can lead to incidents,because some people have a job to do,not poodle around town holding folk up while they nip for a paper or summat, and believe it or not ,men who wear flat caps are the worse
Fully agree, quizling ... men in flat caps do seem to be the worst culprits for dawdling. Perhaps it's time a ban on wearing flat caps in cars was enforced!

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frankly says...
11:01pm Mon 7 Jan 13

i agree, too many using mobiles whilst driving..nobs...i wear a baseball cap lol

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widnesman says...
11:32pm Mon 7 Jan 13

quizling wrote:
and collar the drivers who drive at 20mph in a thirty limit! it causes frustration which can lead to incidents,because some people have a job to do,not poodle around town holding folk up while they nip for a paper or summat, and believe it or not ,men who wear flat caps are the worse
As you say 30mph limit, the maximum you can do if its safe, less if its not!!

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jumper says...
3:08pm Tue 8 Jan 13

We all know that what we don't want to happen to us if we get caught but those who are so called there to give deterrents don't seem to know what happens in the world that the majority live in.

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pitbullboxing says...
4:43pm Tue 8 Jan 13

Should shoot a few - that will send out the right message. It's not hard to pull over or just call somebody back is it? Unless your a total idiot that is.

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keepitreel says...
10:02am Thu 10 Jan 13

i have blue tooth in my car so doesnt affect me BUT we should ban smoking,drinking, eating at the wheel turning the radio over (if not on the steering wheel) having music on too loud,havind a dirty windscreen and ban any car more than 4 years old from the roads,that should clear up a vast ammount of people from the roads so i can get to work on time for a change.just a thought.

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kjd161 says...
11:46am Thu 10 Jan 13

Just admitting to having blue tooth marks you out as a bit of a nob. Why don't you go the whole hog and string up anyone who isn't - er - you.
i.e, everyone else.

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jumper says...
6:29pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Is it that you are not supposed to have any type of distraction when you are driving.apply the law are none of it.

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quizling says...
8:02pm Thu 10 Jan 13

the police use phones in cars,do they not get distracted?

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jumper says...
8:22pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Training hope that helps

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frankly says...
10:02pm Thu 10 Jan 13

so quisling, are you saying that you use a mobile when driving then...just a thought....should make cars that wont receive or send a mobile signal

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quizling says...
10:09pm Thu 10 Jan 13

frankly wrote:
so quisling, are you saying that you use a mobile when driving then...just a thought....should make cars that wont receive or send a mobile signal
i didn't say i used my mobile whilst driving ,where did it say that in my comment?all i said was that the police did

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manufan224 says...
12:22am Fri 11 Jan 13

Quizling! Would be a diff story if they were responding to your call tho wouldn't it, them having to use there radios.

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frankly says...
9:52am Fri 11 Jan 13

manufan...exactly..i would imagine emergency services can at times use them WITH CARE.

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frankly says...
9:54am Fri 11 Jan 13

QUISLING, I never said you were, i said are you saying, little different i think

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Not Bothered says...
10:03pm Sun 13 Jan 13

quizling wrote:
and collar the drivers who drive at 20mph in a thirty limit! it causes frustration which can lead to incidents,because some people have a job to do,not poodle around town holding folk up while they nip for a paper or summat, and believe it or not ,men who wear flat caps are the worse
Another brain dead numbskull who does not realise that 30 is the limit not the target, if you are in a hurry you should start out earlier.

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