Drivers not taking mobile phone warning

Drivers not hanging up mobile phones while on the move concludes campaign

A day-long drive targeting drivers, who use their mobile phones while on the move, has had disappointing results in Northern Constabulary’s area.
A total of 19 were caught on February 28, the fifth anniversary of the mobile phone legislation. The picture was equally gloomy across Scotland, despite growing evidence of crashes being caused by driver inattention.
The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) coordinates several campaigns during the year to educate road users of the risks involved in driving inappropriately, to encourage them to comply with legislation but ultimately to protect their safety and that of other road users.
On 28 February 2011, to coincide with the fifth anniversary of legislation making using any hand held device when driving an endorsable offence, ACPOS coordinated a day of action targeting such offences and also seatbelt offences.
The campaign resulted in 282 offenders being detected driving whilst using a hand held device, with three persons reported for driving whilst failing to maintain proper control and a further 315 were detected for not wearing a seatbelt.
Superintendent Alan Duncan who leads on Road Policing Campaigns for ACPOS said: "Once again, following a coordinated day of action by police officer across all eight Scottish forces, I have to report that an unacceptable number of drivers are still risking their lives, the lives of their passengers and others using our roads.
"In total 261 drivers were detected driving their vehicle whilst using their mobile phone, this included 195 car driver, 56 van drivers and ten drivers of large goods vehicles. In addition 319 persons were detected for seatbelt offences.

"All forces are committed to reducing the number of persons killed or injured on the road network and we will continue on a daily basis to target these offences, as this type of action can have devastating consequences. I believe that through educating drivers to the dangers and encouraging them to make a few simple changes, we will see further reductions on those injured or killed on our roads."
Regional breakdown and incidents of note.
In the Central Scotland force area, 18 people were caught driving whilst using their mobile phone, in addition five drivers were detected not wearing a seatbelt.
In the Dumfries and Galloway force area, 20 people were caught driving whilst using their mobile phone, in addition 67 people were detected not wearing a seatbelt, this included 60 drivers, six front seat adults and one rear seat adult.
In Dumfries a local man was reported for not being in proper control of his vehicle after being seen by officers to be using a laptop computer which was on his knees whilst driving a van.
A 62 year old male (who is currently on nine penalty points) was reported for using his mobile phone whilst driving a goods vehicle in Dumfries.
In the Fife force area, 31 people were caught driving whilst using their mobile phone, in addition 42 were detected not wearing a seatbelt, this included 32 drivers, nine front seat adults and one rear seat adult.
In the Grampian force area, four people were caught driving whilst using their mobile phone, in addition ten drivers were detected not wearing a seatbelt.
In the Lothian and Borders force area, 18 people were caught driving whilst using their mobile phone, in addition 54 people were detected not wearing a seatbelt, this included 46 drivers and 8 front seat adults.
Incident of note:
A 31-year-old male was stopped in Blackburn, West Lothian, for driving whilst using his Mobile Phone and Not Wearing a Seatbelt. Enquiry revealed that the vehicle was uninsured. It was subsequently seized under section 165 of the Road Traffic Act and the driver reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
A 36-year-old Hungarian lorry driver was stopped on the M8 motorway in West Lothian for driving his articulated goods vehicle whilst using a Mobile Phone. He has been reported to the PF.
Traffic Support wardens in Edinburgh observed 48 car drivers, 24 van drivers and two lorry drivers driving their vehicles whilst using a mobile phone. Warning letters are being sent to the registered keepers of the vehicles.
In the Strathclyde force area, 151 people were caught driving whilst using their mobile phone and two persons were reported for failing to maintain proper control whilst driving, in addition 83 people were detected not wearing a seatbelt, this included 69 drivers, 13 front seat adults and one rear seat adult.
Incidents of note:
In Lanarkshire a bus driver with passengers on board was issued a conditional offer of fixed penalty ticket for driving using a mobile phone.
In Glasgow area a 57 year old male reported for dangerous carriage of a four year old child who was sitting on the lap of another male adult with the seatbelt pulled over both of them.
In Ayr, a driver charged with dangerous driving as he was negotiating a roundabout while using a mobile phone.
In the Tayside force area, 20 people were caught driving whilst using their mobile phone, in addition 11 drivers were detected not wearing a seatbelt.