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| Police clampdown on mobile phone-using drivers | Police clampdown on mobile phone-using drivers |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police across Wales have launched a two-week crackdown on motorists who drive while using hand-held mobile phones. | Police across Wales have launched a two-week crackdown on motorists who drive while using hand-held mobile phones. |
| Patrols by all four Welsh forces are being stepped up until 5 October. | Patrols by all four Welsh forces are being stepped up until 5 October. |
| Ian Arundale, chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police, said the aim was to make texting or phoning at the wheel just as socially unacceptable as drink-driving. | Ian Arundale, chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police, said the aim was to make texting or phoning at the wheel just as socially unacceptable as drink-driving. |
| The campaign follows a powerful road safety video that became an internet hit, created by Newport students. | The campaign follows a powerful road safety video that became an internet hit, created by Newport students. |
| The short film Cow, starring young actors from Newport Film School, shows a teenager killing four people in a collision when she uses her mobile phone to send a text. | The short film Cow, starring young actors from Newport Film School, shows a teenager killing four people in a collision when she uses her mobile phone to send a text. |
| It was seen by more than 7m people after it was posted on YouTube in 2009. | It was seen by more than 7m people after it was posted on YouTube in 2009. |
| 'Zero tolerance' | 'Zero tolerance' |
| The new campaign is being led by Dyfed-Powys Police on behalf of the four Welsh forces and hopes to build on the success of Cow. | The new campaign is being led by Dyfed-Powys Police on behalf of the four Welsh forces and hopes to build on the success of Cow. |
| Since 2007 those caught using a phone while driving are given three penalty points and a £60 fine, but police say some motorists have not been deterred. | Since 2007 those caught using a phone while driving are given three penalty points and a £60 fine, but police say some motorists have not been deterred. |
| Mr Arundale said that using a mobile phone while driving makes the user four times more likely to have an accident and the campaign would see a "zero tolerance" approach among officers. | Mr Arundale said that using a mobile phone while driving makes the user four times more likely to have an accident and the campaign would see a "zero tolerance" approach among officers. |
| "When you're using a handheld device at the wheel you're distracted and your reactions will be affected. | "When you're using a handheld device at the wheel you're distracted and your reactions will be affected. |
| "It only takes a momentary lapse in concentration before you could become the cause of a serious collision or be involved in a fatal road traffic collision. | "It only takes a momentary lapse in concentration before you could become the cause of a serious collision or be involved in a fatal road traffic collision. |
| "We want the use of a mobile phone at the wheel to be seen as just as reckless and socially unacceptable as drink-driving and anyone caught using their mobile phone while driving will be prosecuted." | "We want the use of a mobile phone at the wheel to be seen as just as reckless and socially unacceptable as drink-driving and anyone caught using their mobile phone while driving will be prosecuted." |
| So far in 2011, Dyfed-Powys Police have issued 1,352 endorsable tickets to drivers for misusing mobile phones, while in 2010 they issued 2,122. | So far in 2011, Dyfed-Powys Police have issued 1,352 endorsable tickets to drivers for misusing mobile phones, while in 2010 they issued 2,122. |
| At Thursday's launch at the Merlin Theatre in Pembrokeshire College, Haverfordwest, 100 students will hear from road safety professionals, Pembrokeshire council and police officers about the dangers of using hand-held phones while driving. | At Thursday's launch at the Merlin Theatre in Pembrokeshire College, Haverfordwest, 100 students will hear from road safety professionals, Pembrokeshire council and police officers about the dangers of using hand-held phones while driving. |
| They will also see a clip from Cow and a new short film produced by a youth group in Milford Haven. | They will also see a clip from Cow and a new short film produced by a youth group in Milford Haven. |
| Demonstrating dangers | Demonstrating dangers |
| Sue Storch, chair of the Road Safety Wales partnership of local authorities, said the earlier film had become a useful tool in educating young people about the dangers of texting and phoning while at the wheel. | Sue Storch, chair of the Road Safety Wales partnership of local authorities, said the earlier film had become a useful tool in educating young people about the dangers of texting and phoning while at the wheel. |
| She said: "As part of the police school liaison core programme four short clips from the Cow video are shown to young people in Key Stage 4 of the education process to demonstrate the dangers and impact of distractions when driving. | She said: "As part of the police school liaison core programme four short clips from the Cow video are shown to young people in Key Stage 4 of the education process to demonstrate the dangers and impact of distractions when driving. |
| "Utilising this informative and effective video enables road safety professionals and school liaison officers to encourage young adults to explore and understand the consequences of such actions." | "Utilising this informative and effective video enables road safety professionals and school liaison officers to encourage young adults to explore and understand the consequences of such actions." |
| Brynmawr filmmaker Peter Watkins-Hughes produced Cow for Gwent Police as an educational tool for young motorists. | Brynmawr filmmaker Peter Watkins-Hughes produced Cow for Gwent Police as an educational tool for young motorists. |
| Unexpected impact | Unexpected impact |
| Profits generated by the film have been used to commission crime prevention films and award bursaries to young filmmakers via the Gwent Independent Film Trust (Gift). | Profits generated by the film have been used to commission crime prevention films and award bursaries to young filmmakers via the Gwent Independent Film Trust (Gift). |
| Chris Morris, professor of documentary films at University of Wales, Newport, said: "Absolutely nobody thought Cow was going to have the impact it did. | Chris Morris, professor of documentary films at University of Wales, Newport, said: "Absolutely nobody thought Cow was going to have the impact it did. |
| "The students were crucial to the making of it, because we only had a small budget but the internet made a huge difference. | "The students were crucial to the making of it, because we only had a small budget but the internet made a huge difference. |
| "Within a few weeks it had more than 6m hits and we've since been contacted by firms in Australia, Canada and Africa asking for copies to use in businesses where employees drive the public or goods. | "Within a few weeks it had more than 6m hits and we've since been contacted by firms in Australia, Canada and Africa asking for copies to use in businesses where employees drive the public or goods. |
| "It strikes a chord with everybody, no matter how old you are." | "It strikes a chord with everybody, no matter how old you are." |
| Have you experienced a motorist using a hand-held mobile while driving? | Have you experienced a motorist using a hand-held mobile while driving? |
| Its about time this was taken seriously. I've lost count of the number of motorists I've come across, texting or having a conversation whilst attempting to drive. I've also lost count of the number of drivers I've had words with when they're happily chatting or texting whilst at the traffic lights. | Its about time this was taken seriously. I've lost count of the number of motorists I've come across, texting or having a conversation whilst attempting to drive. I've also lost count of the number of drivers I've had words with when they're happily chatting or texting whilst at the traffic lights. |
| Ed, Cardiff | Ed, Cardiff |
| I see at least 10 drivers using their mobiles every day. A lot of these are so called 'professional drivers' in delivery vans, but include every single type of driver from young men to women with young children in the car. I'd also estimate that about 40% of the people I see using a phone while driving are texting. I have in the past pointed out to them that the shouldn't do it, but they don't care. We need unmarked patrols to clamp down on these, with no big announcements. | I see at least 10 drivers using their mobiles every day. A lot of these are so called 'professional drivers' in delivery vans, but include every single type of driver from young men to women with young children in the car. I'd also estimate that about 40% of the people I see using a phone while driving are texting. I have in the past pointed out to them that the shouldn't do it, but they don't care. We need unmarked patrols to clamp down on these, with no big announcements. |
| Phil, Swansea | Phil, Swansea |
| Every week I cycle locally and in the border counties; I see numerous drivers using mobile phones both locally and on the main roads; but I see more private car drivers in the quiet country lanes and lorry drivers on the approach roads to factories. It's a problem to cover all these places. | Every week I cycle locally and in the border counties; I see numerous drivers using mobile phones both locally and on the main roads; but I see more private car drivers in the quiet country lanes and lorry drivers on the approach roads to factories. It's a problem to cover all these places. |
| Geoffrey Gartrell, Llangollen | Geoffrey Gartrell, Llangollen |
| I drive daily in connection with my work, and find it very distressing to see the amount of drivers using mobile phones whilst driving. This covers all age groups, and all types of vehicles, from small cars through to HGV's. The dangers are horrendous, but the existing penalties are far too lenient. If the law was changed to a first offence having a MINIMUM fine of £500 and 6 points, increasing to £2,000 and a 12 month driving ban then this would send a far clearer message of the serious nature of the offence | I drive daily in connection with my work, and find it very distressing to see the amount of drivers using mobile phones whilst driving. This covers all age groups, and all types of vehicles, from small cars through to HGV's. The dangers are horrendous, but the existing penalties are far too lenient. If the law was changed to a first offence having a MINIMUM fine of £500 and 6 points, increasing to £2,000 and a 12 month driving ban then this would send a far clearer message of the serious nature of the offence |
| David Owens, Clwyd | David Owens, Clwyd |
| It is impossible to make any one car journey of a reasonable duration, particularly in an urban area, without seeing mobile phone use in a moving vehicle. This includes not just cars but vans and even heavy lorries. The current deterrent is obviously not effective and needs to be increased and more importantly, better enforced. Motorists who commit this offence are simply oblivious to, or unconcerned at, the idea of putting other peoples lives in danger. | It is impossible to make any one car journey of a reasonable duration, particularly in an urban area, without seeing mobile phone use in a moving vehicle. This includes not just cars but vans and even heavy lorries. The current deterrent is obviously not effective and needs to be increased and more importantly, better enforced. Motorists who commit this offence are simply oblivious to, or unconcerned at, the idea of putting other peoples lives in danger. |
| Adrian Hawes, Swansea | Adrian Hawes, Swansea |
| This is very simple to fix, £2000 fine and automatic 28 days ban every time that you are caught. points are not a deterrent until you get to 9, but losing the car for a month would do it far more effectively. | This is very simple to fix, £2000 fine and automatic 28 days ban every time that you are caught. points are not a deterrent until you get to 9, but losing the car for a month would do it far more effectively. |
| Ade, Welshpool, Powys, | Ade, Welshpool, Powys, |
| I was recently proceeding north up the M6 on the top deck of a coach with blacked out windows, I could see clearly into the cabs of large HGVs although the drivers could not see me. Most of them were texting as they drove. | I was recently proceeding north up the M6 on the top deck of a coach with blacked out windows, I could see clearly into the cabs of large HGVs although the drivers could not see me. Most of them were texting as they drove. |
| Chris Gould, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, | Chris Gould, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, |
| Several of my motorcycling friends have been involved in accidents because car drivers used the phone. I have been lucky so far to avoid such accidents. Riding a white bike and wearing a yellow jacket gives me an advantage. The fools know they are doing wrong, because as soon as they spot me looking at them, they quickly try to hide their phone. I always write down their registration, time of day, location and short description of driver and report them to the police. Apparently, the police do act upon such info. | Several of my motorcycling friends have been involved in accidents because car drivers used the phone. I have been lucky so far to avoid such accidents. Riding a white bike and wearing a yellow jacket gives me an advantage. The fools know they are doing wrong, because as soon as they spot me looking at them, they quickly try to hide their phone. I always write down their registration, time of day, location and short description of driver and report them to the police. Apparently, the police do act upon such info. |
| Timm Frenzel, Risca, | Timm Frenzel, Risca, |
| Everytime I see a driver on their phone, I try to memorise the numberplate, get a description of the driver and note the time and place. Then when it is safe for me to do so I call the Police non emergency number and report it (101) I always get an incident number which means the police have to follow it up. They always do with a visit to the persons home and they then phone me to tell me what they have done. They must hate the sound of my voice but its something I feel very strongly about. People should get a £2000 fine and an automatic one month ban. | |
| Andrea, Cardiff, | |
| What baffles me is the fact that a person will happily spend thousands of pounds on a car,but will not put a cheap hands free system in the car costing just a few pounds! | |
| Eric, Woodford Green, Essex, | |
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