March 28, 2017 4.19 pm This story is over 84 months old

“No excuse”: Lincolnshire drivers caught using mobile phones despite penalty rise

Almost 60 drivers in the East Midlands, including 16 in Lincolnshire, were stopped for using their mobile phones while driving during a week-long police crackdown. As reported previously, motorists faced six points on the driving license and a £200 fine from March 1. They will also no longer be offered the opportunity to go on…
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Almost 60 drivers in the East Midlands, including 16 in Lincolnshire, were stopped for using their mobile phones while driving during a week-long police crackdown.

As reported previously, motorists faced six points on the driving license and a £200 fine from March 1. They will also no longer be offered the opportunity to go on a driver awareness course.

A week-long campaign by forces across the region targeted drivers who continued to use their devices, highlighting the introduction of the new, steeper penalties.

The East Midlands Operational Support Service (EMOpSS) has released the results of their operation on the first week of the new penalties on Tuesday, March 28. The following number of drivers were stopped:

  • Lincolnshire 16
  • Leicestershire 16
  • Northamptonshire 10
  • Nottinghamshire 15

John Siddle, the Communications Manager of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, told The Lincolnite previously: “A driver is four times more likely to have a collision whilst using a mobile phone.

“Combine this with travelling on rural Lincolnshire roads, often at the national speed limit, and the outcome is often fatal.”

He also claimed that phone use while driving is on the increase thanks to smartphones.

Chief Inspector Mark Garthwaite from EMOpSS addedL “The numbers of people stopped are higher than an average week because we had specific operations and Fatal4 clinics running across the week, however, the changes to the legislation have been very well publicised and so there is no excuse for anyone to think it is acceptable to drive and use their mobile phone.

“Our officers will continue to stop motorists whose behaviour risks causing serious injury, or death, to themselves or others.”