HAMPSHIRE Police has begun a week of activity specifically targeting drivers using hand-held mobile phones.

It will run until Sunday, January 28, and aims to draw attention to the risks posed by being distracted while in control of a vehicle.

In March 2017 the law changed, and now drivers convicted of using mobile phones while driving now receive six points on their driving licence and receive a £200 fine.

Young new drivers risk having their licence revoked on their first offence.

Road Safety Sergeant Rob Heard said: “We are still seeing too many people deciding to take that risk to use their mobile phone whilst driving, whether looking at a text, making and receiving calls or even surfing the internet.

“Doing any of these will clearly impair and distract your ability to drive a vehicle safely.

“Research has shown that talking on a mobile phone can impair your ability to drive more than if you were driving whilst over the drink drive limit.

“You are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal collision texting as drink driving, and you are much less aware of what’s happening around you and fail to see road signs, maintain a proper lane position or a steady speed.

“Drivers end up feeling more stressed and frustrated and are more likely to ’tailgate’ the vehicle in front or enter unsafe gaps in traffic.”

Drivers are four times more likely to be distracted, or involved in a collision, whilst using a mobile phone, and reactions are 50 per cent slower, Rob said.

He added: “I am urging all motorists to not take that risk, a moments inattention can be the difference between life and death. We have all seen the devastation caused by those who take the risks. Please think twice before answering a call, looking at a text or browsing your phone, let’s have no more innocent people lose their life.

“My advice is to turn your phone off whilst driving, put it out of reach, and out of view. This way you won’t be tempted to look at it and become distracted. It’s not worth the risk.”

Ion Calin and his work colleague, Marian Olteanu, were killed when a lorry ploughed into their stationary car on the M271 in December 2015. The lorry driver was distracted, using his mobile phone.

Their families’ lives have been devastated by this irresponsible and dangerous act.

But they have bravely shared their story to help raise awareness of the lethal consequence of driving whilst using a mobile phone, with the plea for those that text, surf the web, use apps and more, behind the wheel, to stop.

Visit the YouTube web channel youtu.be/IlW3DhmNeIE to hear the families’ plea.