POLICE catch more than 200 drivers a day using mobile phones illegally on the UK’s roads, figures show.
Almost 6,000 motorists were penalised for breaking the law on phone use behind the wheel in just four weeks.
The figure breaks down to one every seven minutes and campaigners say the “worrying” findings suggest many are ignoring warnings about the dangers of the practice.
New drivers risk losing their licence under new regulations introduced on March 1. The changes, which apply across borders, mean offenders face six points on their licence and a £200 fine for using a phone at the wheel.
Data obtained following freedom of information requests show forces recorded 5,977 instances of the practice the four weeks after the clampdown was rolled out.
The actual figure is likely to be higher as seven forces did not provide results and some cases may not have been logged at the time responses were issued.
The Metropolitan Police registered the highest number at 2,037, meaning more than 70 drivers were caught using a handheld phone on London’s roads each day.
Thames Valley Police recorded the second-largest total at 478, followed by Police Scotland at 339, Hampshire Police on 280 and Cheshire Police at 224.
Incidents reported by police after the tougher penalties were introduced include a man doing his online banking while driving along the M5 motorway near Birmingham, a woman responding to a message about her lost puppy being found, and a school minibus driver using the phone with ten children on board in Manchester.
Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation described the increased penalties as “a start”, but warned the figures suggest “the key message still isn’t sinking in”.
Its director Steve Gooding said: “Driving is a safety-critical activity that requires our full attention. Hands need to be on the wheel and eyes looking out of the windscreen, not down at the phone screen.”
Meanwhile, Brake spokesman Jack Kushner described the number of drivers “selfishly using their mobile phones behind the wheel” as concerning. He said: “Driver distraction is a growing menace and it’s worrying that drivers don’t seem to be getting the message.”
The charity wants the £200 fine to be “significantly increased” to deter offenders.
Twenty-two people were killed and 99 seriously injured in accidents on Britain’s roads in 2015 where a motorist using a mobile was a contributory factor, according to the Department for Transport.
Police say they want to make using a mobile while driving as “socially unacceptable” as drink-driving.
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