It takes less than a second for a collision to occur - Northamptonshire Police is #StandingUpForHangingUp

Police officers in Northamptonshire are encouraging road users to save lives by putting their mobile phones away when they’re driving.

Northamptonshire Police is #StandingUpForHangingUp as part of a three-week National Policing Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) campaign to reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the roads. 

This campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of using a mobile phone whilst driving, which can increase the chances of being involved in a fatal or serious collision. 

Using a mobile phone behind the wheel is one of the main contributors and is one of the fatal four driving offences alongside drink and drug driving, speeding and not wearing a seatbelt. 

Most drivers would never dream of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, yet research has shown that drivers using a phone – whether handheld or hands free – are impaired to the same degree as a drink driver. 

Research has also shown that drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a collision, are far less likely to notice and react to hazards, take much longer to react to any hazards they do see, show poor lane discipline, and speed choices. 

Inspector Ian Wills from the Force’s Roads Policing Team said: “There is no excuse for using a mobile phone when you’re driving and by doing so, you are putting yourself and other road users at risk.

“Next time you think of picking up the phone when you’re behind the wheel, ask yourself – is this text or this call worth possibly killing someone over? Is it worth the days in court, the time in prison, and the lifetime of devastation you could cause a family? 

“Whether it’s texting, checking messages, scrolling through music, or using hands-free, using your mobile phone whilst driving not only puts you in danger but other road users too. 

“We take year-round action against drivers who interact with their devices while on the move, however for the next three weeks we are putting a particular focus on cracking down on those committing this type of offence.   

“ Driving needs your full attention, so please take responsibility for your personal safety on the roads and hang up!” 

By law, the only time you can use a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving is to call 999 in an emergency.  

Otherwise, you must be safely parked with your vehicle’s engine switched off – this does not include being stopped in traffic or waiting at traffic lights.  

Read more about mobile phone offences and penalties here: www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law