POLICE are hitting the road in numbers as Hampshire motorists who are caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel can expect double the punishment from today, March 1.
Hampshire Police are participating in a national week of enforcement action to coincide with the introduction of new penalties for drivers illegally using handheld devices.
Offenders will receive six points on their driving licence and a £200 fine, while drivers caught using their handheld phone between March 1 and 7 will also be handed a fixed penalty notice.
The changes will have a significant impact on young motorists as they now risk having their driving licence revoked following their first offence.
“It’s all about making our roads safer and making drivers more responsible,” said Superintendent Simon Dodds, Head of the Joint Roads Policing Unit for Hampshire and the Thames Valley.
“I think the penalties are certainly a reflection of how serious we see the offence, as over the last two years there’s been over 200 incidents and 15 deaths that have been cause by the use of mobile phones in Hampshire and the Thames Valley.
“We would say to drivers, if you’re going to use a handheld device then think about the seriousness of the call and whether it can wait.”
Commenting on the operation, Supt Dodds added: “Expect to see more police vehicles on the road, looking for drivers using mobile phones, and if you’re caught, expect to get a penalty.
“If you look at some of the tragedies we’ve seen, we’ve got a social responsibility for deterring them and making our roads safer. We’ve had incidents in Hampshire where people have been killed because of mobile phone use on the road and there was recently a tragedy on the A31.
“Our Road Policing Teams will be conducting their own operations, but it’s not something we’re going to do for a week and stop doing – we will be continually looking out for offenders.”