Hundreds of motorists were caught using their mobile phones across the Thames Valley during organised checks last week (15 to 21 March).
A total of 348 drivers were handed Fixed Penalty Notices of £60 and three penalty points for the offence across the region, as Thames Valley Police staged a week of enforcement aiming to reduce the number of drivers who continue to ignore the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving.
Following checks in Reading earlier in the week, Road Safety Constable Julian Weal worked alongside roads policing officers and road safety officers from West Berkshire Council on three organised checks.
On Thursday (18/3) checks were carried out in Newbury. The first, a two hour operation on the A4 London Road, near to the junction with Faraday Road saw seven people given fixed penalties for driving while using a mobile phone. A further 25 people were found not to be wearing seatbelts and one driver was handed a fixed penalty for not being in full control of his vehicle.
This was followed by an hour-long check on London Road, close to the Swan public house, where three people were found to be using their mobile phones, eight not wearing seatbelts and one not in full control of his vehicle.
Friday (19/3) saw a check of just under two hours on the A4 Bath Road, Calcot, near to the junction with Langley Hill., Seven people were caught using their mobile phones, 23 were not wearing seatbelts and one person was found to have a defective windscreen and given a form requiring them to repair it.
In total, 27 drivers were found to be using their mobile phones in Berkshire West during the enforcement week. PC Weal said: “The intention of this campaign was to raise the awareness of the dangers of drivers using their mobile phones while driving.
“The drivers detected during this week will be given the opportunity to attend a mobile phone education course rather than having points on their driving licence or attending court. We are regularly conducting road safety checks in partnership with the road safety officers from West Berkshire Council and we are determined to reduce the number of drivers using mobile phones while driving”.
The figures given represent the number caught in organised checks linked to the campaign. Offenders caught during routine patrols are not included in the figures.
...and one driver was handed a fixed penalty for not being in full control of his vehicle.
Just a few days ago a lady driver was following me in a queue of traffic on the northbound A339. Presumably she was steering the car with her knee, because she was using both hands trying to put her earings on, whilst looking in the mirror at the same time.
While the numbers using mobiles is not a surprise, the number not using seatbelts is amazing. Guess it shows how many people think that these two laws are not enforced.
Just over 1 week ago i was teaching a student on the A4 road at Speen, and lo and behold in my rear view mirror was a police car. ( we were moving and not stationary). The uniformed officer was adjusting his sun glasses with BOTH hands. I have the registration of the vehicle and time of this incident but did not report it. 2 witnesses beeing myself and my student i doubt if it would have mattered if i did report it.
Just over 1 week ago i was teaching a student on the A4 road at Speen, and lo and behold in my rear view mirror was a police car. ( we were moving and not stationary). The uniformed officer was adjusting his sun glasses with BOTH hands. I have the registration of the vehicle and time of this incident but did not report it. 2 witnesses beeing myself and my student i doubt if it would have mattered if i did report it.
I guess they'd argue they're schooled in that sort of thing and have to go through extensive Sunglass Adjustment Training before they're allowed behind the wheel.
Seriously though, I would guess they'd say something along the lines they their trained as expert drivers. Remember that in some situations they're able to drive without a seatbelt, use a mobile communication device with their hands and even go through red lights.
While the numbers using mobiles is not a surprise, the number not using seatbelts is amazing. Guess it shows how many people think that these two laws are not enforced.
I have been to several 'seat belt awareness' courses.
Apparently, according to the chaps who give the presentation, the reason that the Govt. wants you to belt up is the social & financial cost to society of your death.
At each course there is a 15 minute f** break. So, you can slowly kill yourself with cigs, but not apparently with your car.
and lo and behold in my rear view mirror was a police car. ( we were moving and not stationary). The uniformed officer was adjusting his sun glasses with BOTH hands.
See? They don't call him clever dick for nothing........ (boom boom!)
Can they do you for sneezing? Often wondered about that.
No, the offence is loosing control.
Sneezing would be a mitigation - and would doubtless lead to some interesting exchanges in Court. 'Sorry, I was on my own in the car and just sneezed so badly I lost control', 'Must have been bad to totally loose control - have you sneezed like that before?', 'Yes, I have hay fever' 'So, then, knowing you could be so affected you still chose to drive the car...'
The whole thing is about control - using a mobile was really always 'against the law' - due care and attention and all that. Yes, in some circumstances talking to passengers is just as bad. The difficult bit is proof.
Our roads are dangerous enough without people thinking they can concentrate steering heavy lumps of metal about whilst eating pies, smoking, using mobiles etc. etc. Accidents don't just happen.
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