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Posted on Monday 20 February 2023
Car mobile phone
Pinging a text, a phone call that just can’t wait or a quick glance at that latest notification? You are seconds away from potentially killing someone.

And before you say it, we are not being dramatic: being distracted even just for a second is all it takes to lose control of your vehicle and cause a collision with devastating consequences.
And it’s completely avoidable.

Durham Constabulary is urging all drivers to think twice about using their mobile phone as it takes part in a national campaign, launching today.

One of the Fatal 4, using a mobile at the wheel has been recognised for some time as a contributory factor in collisions. That’s because you are four times more likely to be involved in a collision if you are too distracted to react to hazards.

Officers from the Durham Roads & Armed Policing Unit will be carrying out extra patrols and clamping down on any drivers putting others at risk by breaking the law.

To clarify, it is illegal to hold a phone or sat nav whilst driving even when you’re stopped at lights or stuck in traffic – if your engine is on and you’re behind the wheel, you’re breaking the law.

You can avoid these risks by simply putting your phone out of sight such as in the glove box or turning on an app which will block any calls or notifications for your journey. It will even send the person trying to get in touch a handy message to let them know you’re on the road and will reply when it’s safe.

Selfish drivers who choose to ignore this advice face at best, six penalty points and a £200 fine and at worst, being jailed for dangerous driving – if they don’t seriously injure someone else in the process.

And it’s not just officers who can submit evidence now either, anyone with a dashcam can upload footage to Op Snap here: https://www.durham.police.uk/Report-It/Road-related-incident-reporting/Road-incident-reporting.aspx

So please ask yourself, is that quick glance really worth it? 

Inspector Kevin Salter said: “Using your mobile phone at the wheel can be fatal and in 2023, there really is no excuse.

“Please don’t be one of those people who risks and thinks they won’t get caught – you will and when you are, it could be more than your career and reputation you could lose.”

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