MORE THAN 100 motorists have been caught using their mobile phone at the wheel in just two days.
Officers from the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) are enforcing the tougher Government laws which mean a £200 fine and six penalty points for those caught.
A week-long police crackdown has been launched by CMPG – which is made up of officers from West Midlands, Staffordshire and West Mercia police forces – to coincide with the increased punishments which came into force on Wednesday, March 1.
Already, 117 drivers have been caught for being distracted at the wheel on routes around the region, including stretches on the M6, M5 and M42.
Both marked and unmarked vehicles are being used to catch motorists illegally using their phones or any other mobile technology to make calls, text or browse the internet.
Inspector Sion Hathaway, from CMPG, said: “Using a mobile phone at the wheel has been illegal since 2003, but some motorists are still putting their own and others’ lives at risk.
“Being distracted can put road users in real danger – drivers should ask themselves how they would feel if someone was seriously injured or killed as a result of not paying attention while driving.”
Studies have found driver reaction time when using a mobile phone are 30 per cent slower than someone who is just above the drink drive limit – and 50 per cent slower than under normal driving conditions.
Mobile phones are also four times more likely to be involved in a crash involving damage to property or serious injury.
David Jamieson, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said he’d like to see local groups benefit from the higher fines by using the money to keep roads safe.
He added: “These tougher penalties are welcomed by all sensible road users as driving while using a handheld mobile phone is potentially lethal.
“This is about saving lives.
“These tougher penalties are therefore only a good thing – and the vast majority of the public agrees.”
