From Tuesday 15 February to Thursday 17 February, police launched a high-tech sting operation targeting distracted drivers across key road networks in Oxford, Hampshire, and Berkshire. Using a Stagecoach bus as a lookout post, officers successfully caught numerous motorists breaking mobile phone laws while driving.
On Tuesday, on Oxford’s busy A40 and A34 roads, police stopped 10 drivers for using mobile phones and 4 drivers for losing control behind the wheel.
Wednesday’s patrols covered the A34 in Hampshire and Berkshire, as well as the A303, M27, M3, and A31 motorways. During this time, officers caught 10 drivers using phones, 3 drivers with insecure loads, and 2 drivers losing control of their vehicles.
The crackdown continued on Thursday with 14 motorists caught using mobile phones, 6 drivers found with unsecured loads, and 3 drivers losing control on the roads.
Sergeant Dave Hazlett of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit warned about the dangers of mobile phone use while driving. He said, “While most drivers behave responsibly, some still risk lives by fiddling with their phones. Research shows you’re four times more likely to crash and won’t react fast enough to hazards when distracted by mobile devices.”
He added, “Big thanks to Stagecoach and National Highways for backing our operation.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
