Busted! Police crackdown on mobile phone use behind the wheel

Using your mobile phone whilst driving can have potentially devastating consequences and you are four times more likely to be involved in a crash. As a result, Norfolk Police have launched a new operation to target distracted drivers on our county’s roads.

The operation will see uniformed officers using buses to catch those who choose to use their mobile phone behind the wheel.

Officers will be equipped with video recording equipment onboard designated routes, supplied by First Bus. They will use the vantage point of the bus to identify passing motorists who are committing offences whilst driving.

This information will then be radioed to the rest of the team operating in the area. Marked and unmarked units will divert offending drivers to a designated site where they will receive an educational input. They may also face six points on their license and up to an £1000 fine.

Sergeant Adrian Hales, from Norfolk’s Roads and Armed Policing Team said: “Over the past three years, vulnerable road users (motorcyclists, pedal cyclists and pedestrians) have been involved in over 100 collisions, just within Norwich.

“Whilst we will be looking at all fatal four offences, our focus will be mobile phone use, including whilst stationary or in slow moving traffic. When you are engaged in a phone call, your hazard perception decreases as does your situational awareness.

“You are less likely to notice hazards right in front of you, even at low speeds or when stationary. The phrase used is that you are looking but failing to see, as your concentration is elsewhere.

“I would ask this, are you always aware of where other roads users are?

“Any distraction whilst driving shows very similar effects on your driving behaviour as those driving under the influence of alcohol. Whilst it is not an offence to use your phone on an in-car handsfree device, the distraction level is still the same. Our advice is simple, don’t use your phone whilst driving.”

The operation ran for the first time on Monday 26 February 2024 and coincides with the national mobile phone campaign led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

59 offences were detected in a single day with 39 of those being use of a mobile phone. 11 drivers were also found to not be wearing a seatbelt.

One driver was found to be using her mobile phone within weeks of passing her driving test.  New drivers will have their licence revoked if they receive six or more penalty points, within two years of passing their test. This means she will now have to re-sit both her theory and practical driving tests before being able to drive again.

Another driver who was stopped for mobile phone use already had 12 points on their licence. They now face losing their licence as a result.

Piers Marlow, Managing Director of First Bus East of England, said: “The safety of our customers and people is always our number one priority, so we were more than happy to get involved and assist Norfolk Police with an operation to make the roads safer for everyone”

Changes to the law in 2022 expanded the meaning of ‘using’ a mobile phone. This means it is illegal to do any of the following with your handheld device when behind the wheel:

• illuminating the screen
• checking the time
• checking notifications
• unlocking the device
• making, receiving, or rejecting a telephone or internet-based call
• sending, receiving or uploading oral or written content
• sending, receiving or uploading a photo or video
• utilising camera, video, or sound recording
• drafting any text
• accessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messages
• accessing an app
• accessing the internet

There are some exceptions such as calling 999, if it is unsafe or impractical to stop, or making a contactless payment in a drive-thru however in most cases, you should wait until you are safely parked before using a hand-held mobile phone.

Giles Orpen-Smellie, Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner added: “I fully support the aims of this operation.  Alerting drivers to the dangers they put themselves and others into is vital for changing people’s behaviour.  There were 40 fatalities and 422 serious injuries on Norfolk’s roads in 2023. The use of mobile phones and other device at the wheel is one of the ‘Fatal Four’ causes of death and serious injury. I hope this form of proactive enforcement will reassure the public that Norfolk Constabulary is working to protect the safety of road users.”