From Tuesday 15 February to Thursday 17 February, police conducted a targeted crackdown on drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel across key strategic roads in Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and Berkshire.
Officers utilised a Stagecoach bus, kindly donated for the operation, as a covert lookout point to monitor motorists. If a driver was observed using their phone or driving recklessly, nearby police units were alerted via radio to stop the vehicle immediately.
Over the three-day period, a total of 34 drivers were caught using mobile phones while driving. On Tuesday, 10 drivers were stopped for mobile phone use and 4 for poor vehicle control on the A40 and A34 around Oxford. On Wednesday, along the A34, A303, M27, M3, and A31, police stopped 10 drivers for mobile phone use, 3 for insecure loads, and 2 for loss of control. On Thursday, 14 motorists were nabbed for phone use, 6 for insecure loads, and 3 for poor control.
Sergeant Dave Hazlett of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit issued a warning about the dangers of mobile phone use while driving. He said, “While most drivers stay safe, a worrying few are still risking lives by using their phones on the road. Research shows you’re four times more likely to crash and less likely to spot hazards when distracted by your mobile device.”
Sergeant Hazlett also thanked Stagecoach and National Highways for supporting the operation, which aims to improve road safety across the UK.
Originally published by UKNIP.
