Mobile phone detectors are to be used by police to find drivers using devices at the wheel.
The Thames Valley and Hampshire forces are bringing new technology to show when motorists are using their mobile phones. A sign will flash at the driver telling them to stop using their mobile phone but the detectors can not tell if the driver are using their mobile.
The technology will not be used as an enforcement tool but it will be aimed at educating motorists and identifying the main places drivers use their phones whilst driving.
Thames Valley Police
Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary have developed the technology with Westcotec Ltd. The system was tested in Norfolk last year and detected 2G, 3G AND 4G signals. When it detected these it flashed an alert to people in the cars who were using them to call, text or their data. If the drivers are using bluetooth hands-free device the detector will not recognise this and will not flash.
The system can not work out if it is the passenger or driver in the vehicle who is using the phone but the sign will be activated either way. The force says the two detectors will cost £6,000 each and will be located on the A34 in Oxfordshire but will be at different locations throughout the Thames Valley and Hampshire to start.
Drivers who are caught using their mobile phone whilst driving are currently fined £200 and given six points.
This campaign is being supported by Kate Goldsmith who lost her daughter, aged 11, following a road traffic collision in 2016. A lorry driver was using his mobile phone whilst driving when he crashed into stationary traffic crushing a number of vehicles. Kate’s step mum Tracy Houghton, 45, her step brothers, Ethan, 13, and Joshua, 11, all died in the crash.
PC Liz Johnson, a Roads Safety Officer for the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Research shows us that you are four times more likely to crash if you are using a mobile phone whilst driving, reaction times are around 50% slower than a driver not using a mobile phone.
“It is also apparent that you are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal collision when texting compared with drink driving.
“In the Thames Valley since 2014 there have been 83 people killed or seriously injured as a result of drivers using their mobile phones and 40 have been killed or seriously injured Hampshire.
“It is vital that people take notice and stop using their mobile phones whilst driving.
“The Joint Operations Unit will continue to educate people of the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving through our “It’s Not Worth The Risk” campaign and reduce the devastating impact it can have on people’s lives.
“We will be utilising the new technology from Westcotec to help inform our enforcement activity to find hotspots and also further educate motorists.
“Additionally, officers will be carrying out enforcement activity throughout next week. We will be utilising a bus in order to travel around locations in the Thames Valley and Hampshire to spot motorists breaking the law and using mobile phones.
“My advice would be to turn off your phone whilst driving, put it out of reach, out of view so that more innocent people don’t lose their lives. Remember It’s not worth the risk.”
The new technology being used by the Joint Operations Unit has been developed by Norfolk company Westcotec, Managing Director Chris Spinks, said: “Our system is designed to provide intelligence to police officers so that they can carry out enforcement activity in order to reduce the amount of people who are using mobile phones illegally on our roads.
“Our technology provides a visual sign to motorists who are using a mobile phone whilst driving without Bluetooth.
“We are pleased to be working with the Joint Operations Unit for Thames Valley and Hampshire Police to reduce the devastating impact of people driving whilst using a mobile phone.
“We will continue to develop new technologies so that we can help reduce people being injured and losing loved ones through the needless use of mobile phones whilst driving.”
