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Thousands caught driving distracted twice over four years | Thousands caught driving distracted twice over four years |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Almost 10,000 drivers have been caught twice for being distracted while driving, including using a mobile phone, in the last four years. | Almost 10,000 drivers have been caught twice for being distracted while driving, including using a mobile phone, in the last four years. |
More than 600 people were caught three times and one driver five times, data from a BBC Radio 5 live freedom of information request to the DVLA shows. | More than 600 people were caught three times and one driver five times, data from a BBC Radio 5 live freedom of information request to the DVLA shows. |
Road safety charity Brake says the findings show authorities are not taking the offence "seriously enough". | Road safety charity Brake says the findings show authorities are not taking the offence "seriously enough". |
The government says it is pushing ahead with plans for tougher penalties. | The government says it is pushing ahead with plans for tougher penalties. |
The data refers to the number of drivers who have received CU80 endorsements in the past four years, which is how long the DVLA keeps its records. | The data refers to the number of drivers who have received CU80 endorsements in the past four years, which is how long the DVLA keeps its records. |
CU80 endorsements cover a range of breaches in requirements regarding the control of a vehicle, and include being distracted by a mobile phone. | CU80 endorsements cover a range of breaches in requirements regarding the control of a vehicle, and include being distracted by a mobile phone. |
Although 238,694 people have been caught driving while distracted at least once, just 284 have received a ban as a result, the DVLA said. | Although 238,694 people have been caught driving while distracted at least once, just 284 have received a ban as a result, the DVLA said. |
The findings come in the same week that Tomasz Kroker was jailed for 10 years for causing a crash which killed a mother and four children. | The findings come in the same week that Tomasz Kroker was jailed for 10 years for causing a crash which killed a mother and four children. |
He was filmed using his mobile phone just before his lorry ploughed into a queue of vehicles on the A34 in Berkshire. | He was filmed using his mobile phone just before his lorry ploughed into a queue of vehicles on the A34 in Berkshire. |
How many times drivers have received points for CU80 offences from 2012-2015: | How many times drivers have received points for CU80 offences from 2012-2015: |
The data for 2012-2015, released to the Emma Barnett programme on BBC Radio 5 live, shows the total number of drivers being caught is falling: in 2014, 68,409 motorists received a CU80 endorsement, however in 2015 this fell to 42,950 drivers. | The data for 2012-2015, released to the Emma Barnett programme on BBC Radio 5 live, shows the total number of drivers being caught is falling: in 2014, 68,409 motorists received a CU80 endorsement, however in 2015 this fell to 42,950 drivers. |
According to campaigners, this is caused by a reduction in the number of road policing officers in the UK. | According to campaigners, this is caused by a reduction in the number of road policing officers in the UK. |
The total number of traffic officers in the police dropped from 5,635 at the end of March 2010 to 4,356 by the end of March 2014, according to Brake. | The total number of traffic officers in the police dropped from 5,635 at the end of March 2010 to 4,356 by the end of March 2014, according to Brake. |
'Tougher sanctions needed' | 'Tougher sanctions needed' |
Gary Rae, campaigns director for Brake, described the statistics as "astonishing and worrying". | Gary Rae, campaigns director for Brake, described the statistics as "astonishing and worrying". |
"It's further evidence that the authorities are not taking illegal use of mobiles behind the wheel seriously enough. | "It's further evidence that the authorities are not taking illegal use of mobiles behind the wheel seriously enough. |
"We need tougher sanctions on drivers who use their devices when driving, and that includes increasing both the fines and penalty points," he said. | "We need tougher sanctions on drivers who use their devices when driving, and that includes increasing both the fines and penalty points," he said. |
The current punishment for using a mobile phone while driving is three penalty points, but in September the government announced it was looking at plans to double the penalty to six points. | The current punishment for using a mobile phone while driving is three penalty points, but in September the government announced it was looking at plans to double the penalty to six points. |
A spokesman for the Department for Transport reiterated the government's desire to push ahead with the new plans. | A spokesman for the Department for Transport reiterated the government's desire to push ahead with the new plans. |
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