News

4 December 2008
WINTER WEATHER FAILS TO STOP 271 MOTORISTS FROM USING THEIR HAND-HELD MOBILE PHONES

THE return to winter conditions on Scotland's roads failed to deter 271 motorists from using their mobile phones during a police crackdown.

Starting yesterday morning at 7am, all eight Scottish police forces conducted a 24-hour mobile phone ‘day of action’, the third and final in a series co-ordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) this year, to remind motorists not to use their mobile phone while driving as they could lose their licence.

“While we are pleased to see fewer motorists getting caught using their hand-held mobile phones while driving, we are still concerned with the number of motorists who are simply ignoring the law and especially under driving conditions that we have experienced throughout Scotland during the earlier part of the week,” said Chief Superintendent Brian Anderson (Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary), Portfolio lead on Casualty Reduction for the ACPOS Road Policing Business Area. 

On the mobile phone day of action held last February, Scottish police officers stopped 324 motorists who were using their mobile phone while driving.  In August, 313 drivers were stopped.

 Despite the drop in motorists stopped for using their mobile phone, Mr. Anderson reminded drivers, “You can be stopped by police even if you are using a hands-free phone. Motorists need to remember if using a mobile phone in any way that affects your ability to control your vehicle properly, you will be stopped and reported for the appropriate offence.” 

“Your reaction times are impaired when using either type of mobile phone while driving and that could result in a fatal or serious road crash,” concluded Chief Superintendent Anderson.

  “Our advice is simple – Don’t risk it!”