DRIVERS who continue to use their mobile 'phones while behind the wheel are being targeted today (Wednesday, February 27).
It is one year since penalties for using a mobile phone while driving changed from a non-endorsable £30 fine to a £60 fine with three penalty points.
And today, Tayside Police, in common with forces across Scotland, will be undertaking a day of a
ction against offending drivers.
In the past twelve months (since the increased penalties were introduced) a total of 1405 drivers throughout Tayside have received conditional offer tickets.
In the previous year, before the increase in penalty, 2677 drivers (including 20 people who were supervising learner drivers) received tickets. Encouragingly, this represents a reduction of 47.5 per cent in offenders.
Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman, Head of Road Policing in Tayside, said: "I am pleased there has been a big reduction in offenders, but there are still too many motorists who use their mobile 'phones when they are behind the wheel. A fine and three points is a costly price to pay, but not as much as being involved in a collision - a fact that drivers would do well to remember."
The aim of this publicised operation is to remind motorists of their obligations and responsibilities to themselves and to other road users
Reaction times are about 50 per cent slower when driving and using a mobile 'phone and the risk of crashing is about four times higher.
Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman, said: ''Any action that diverts the driver's attention, such as using a mobile phone, is placing the driver and other road users at risk. The law recognises this and we will continue to deal with errant motorists for the benefit of other road users.
"The message is: 'Switch off before you drive off - Don't risk it!'"
