Motorists warned not to use mobiles (From Stourbridge News)

Motorists warned not to use mobiles

2:11pm Tuesday 27th February 2007 in Local By Bev Holder

MOTORISTS who continue to flout the law and use their mobile phones while driving will be answering to stiffer penalties from today (February 27) West Mercia Constabulary has warned.

Drivers caught using a hand-held mobile phones will now receive a £60 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points on their licence.

If the case goes to court car drivers risk a maximum £1,000 fine while drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches will face a maximum £2,500 fine.

Any new drivers who incur six points within two years of passing their test will lose their licence under the New Drivers Act.

Motorists could also be prosecuted for using a hands free mobile phone if they are not in proper control of their vehicle.

The new tougher regulations have been brought in to deter people from using mobiles behind the wheel. In 2006 2,400 motorists in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin were caught using a hand-held mobile or did not have proper control of their vehicle.

Sergeant John Roberts, West Mercia Constabulary's casualty reduction manager, said: "While carrying a mobile phone in a car in case of an emergency is beneficial and reassuring, using it to chat to friends, family, work colleagues and clients while driving is as dangerous as drink driving. Drivers are putting their own lives at risk as well as risking the lives of other people on the road.

"Our advice is it's good to talk, but not while you are driving, so switch your mobile off before you drive off."

Mobile phone safety is one of the key areas of the force's ongoing Seven Deadly Sins campaign, which aims to raise awareness about road safety and cut the number of people killed and injured on West Mercia roads.

For more about the campaign visit the force's website www.westmercia.police.uk