Drivers flout tougher phone laws

Rachel Begg was convicted for text messaging in July

Thousands of drivers are continuing to flout mobile phone laws, despite higher fines and penalty points on licences.

The penalty for using a phone while driving was raised from £30 to £60 and three penalty points in February.

But figures obtained by the BBC News website show police forces in the north-east of England issued 3,045 notices in the subsequent six months.

The Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland forces say too many motorists are continuing to risk the lives of others.

In the Northumbria force area, 1,627 fixed penalty notices were issued for mobile phone-related offences.

Ch Insp Kevin Wellden, of the force's operations department, said the figure was disappointing after the recent conviction of a teenage driver, who caused the death of a woman in a crash as she sent a text message.

People must remember that not only is using a mobile phone while driving a criminal offence, but it can have devastating consequences Ch Insp Kevin Wellden

Rachel Begg, 19, of Ponteland, Northumberland, was sent to a young offenders' institute in July, after admitting causing the death of Maureen Waites, 64, from County Durham last November.

Mr Wellden said: "Research has proven that using a mobile telephone while driving is just as bad as someone drinking and driving and we have seen incidents in the region which have led to fatalities.

"The recent case of Rachel Begg underlines how dangerous using a mobile phone while driving can be.

"People must remember that not only is using a mobile phone while driving a criminal offence, but it can have devastating consequences."

'Extreme annoyance'

In the Cleveland force area, the number of endorsements fell to 783 between February and September, from 1,163 in the previous six months

But Insp Eric Robinson from the force's road policing unit said there were still too many drivers ignoring the law.

He said: "Clearly there are still too many motorists flouting this law. They are a danger to themselves and other road users and cause extreme annoyance and frustration amongst other law abiding motorists."

Durham Police said 635 notices had been issued between February and September, compared with 569 during the same period last year.

Pc David Nixon, for force's road casualty reduction officer, said: "Given that we have not seen any reduction in the figures, it is clear that drivers are still not getting the message.

"It looks like some people will not get that message until someone is disqualified for using their mobile phone at the wheel."