This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37484056
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Fewer drivers on mobile phones 'caught by police' | Fewer drivers on mobile phones 'caught by police' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The number of drivers caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel has almost halved in five years, the BBC can reveal. | The number of drivers caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel has almost halved in five years, the BBC can reveal. |
Some 178,000 people were stopped in 2011-12 by police in the UK, compared with under 95,000 last year. | Some 178,000 people were stopped in 2011-12 by police in the UK, compared with under 95,000 last year. |
The National Police Federation said the drop was due to fewer traffic officers. | The National Police Federation said the drop was due to fewer traffic officers. |
A road safety charity said too many people still used their mobile phone while driving. | A road safety charity said too many people still used their mobile phone while driving. |
The BBC received responses from 37 of the 43 police forces in the UK under the Freedom of Information Act. | The BBC received responses from 37 of the 43 police forces in the UK under the Freedom of Information Act. |
Kent Police had the biggest drop in the number of drivers stopped for using a phone at the wheel, from 4,496 in 2011-12 to 723 in 2015-16 - a reduction of 84%. | Kent Police had the biggest drop in the number of drivers stopped for using a phone at the wheel, from 4,496 in 2011-12 to 723 in 2015-16 - a reduction of 84%. |
'Inane' text message | 'Inane' text message |
Cyclist Lee Martin, 48, was killed when he was hit by a van travelling at 65mph on the A31 near Bentley, in Hampshire, in August last year. | Cyclist Lee Martin, 48, was killed when he was hit by a van travelling at 65mph on the A31 near Bentley, in Hampshire, in August last year. |
His brother Darrell said the driver was writing an "inane" text message behind the wheel - an offence he had been caught eight times for in the past. | His brother Darrell said the driver was writing an "inane" text message behind the wheel - an offence he had been caught eight times for in the past. |
"He had nine seconds of clear road that he could see my brother at. | "He had nine seconds of clear road that he could see my brother at. |
"The text message - think about how inane this is - it was about meeting his mate later and taking his dog for a walk. That's what killed my brother." | "The text message - think about how inane this is - it was about meeting his mate later and taking his dog for a walk. That's what killed my brother." |
"It's horrendous," he said. | "It's horrendous," he said. |
The driver, Christopher Gard, from Alton in Hampshire, was sentenced to nine years in prison. | The driver, Christopher Gard, from Alton in Hampshire, was sentenced to nine years in prison. |
Ch Con Suzette Davenport, from the National Police Chief's Council, said: "This problem cannot be solved by enforcement alone - we need to build awareness and make it socially unacceptable to use a mobile phone while driving." | Ch Con Suzette Davenport, from the National Police Chief's Council, said: "This problem cannot be solved by enforcement alone - we need to build awareness and make it socially unacceptable to use a mobile phone while driving." |
Jayne Willetts, from the Police Federation for England and Wales, said: "It's no surprise that our figures have dropped because the number of operational roads policing officers whose core role would be to target the mobile phone offences has significantly dropped as well. | Jayne Willetts, from the Police Federation for England and Wales, said: "It's no surprise that our figures have dropped because the number of operational roads policing officers whose core role would be to target the mobile phone offences has significantly dropped as well. |
"Since 2000 [the number of officers] has almost halved. The two go hand in hand." | "Since 2000 [the number of officers] has almost halved. The two go hand in hand." |
However, Insp Alan Nicholls, from the Sussex and Surrey road policing unit, said the figures could be viewed with "a positive spin". | |
"It could be people are getting the point and not committing this offence anymore," he said. | |
'Adequate policing' missing | |
Under new rules expected to come in next year, drivers will get six points on their licence and face a £200 fine. | Under new rules expected to come in next year, drivers will get six points on their licence and face a £200 fine. |
Newly qualified drivers could be made to retake their test the first time they are caught. | Newly qualified drivers could be made to retake their test the first time they are caught. |
Alice Bailey from Brake, a road safety charity, said: "We carried out our own research and found anything between 15 and 50% of people, depending on their age range, admit to using their phone behind the wheel. | Alice Bailey from Brake, a road safety charity, said: "We carried out our own research and found anything between 15 and 50% of people, depending on their age range, admit to using their phone behind the wheel. |
"It shows the message hasn't got through." | "It shows the message hasn't got through." |
Steve Gooding, RAC Foundation director, said stiff penalties and "adequate policing which convinces drivers they will be caught" were needed to deter mobile phone use. | |
"These figures suggest the second part of the equation is missing," he said. |