Drive to catch phone use drivers

Motorists using phones can be given three penalty points

Speed camera vans are to be used as part of a crackdown on drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel in Kent.

Officers in a fleet of vans will photograph any motorist they spot using their telephone whilst driving and issue a fine over a seven day period.

The operation, which starts on 16 February, follows a trial in Medway which saw offenders given a warning.

The teams, which include Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership staff, will also be checking seatbelts.

Tougher penalties were introduced in February 2007 for people caught driving vehicles whilst using a handheld mobile.

If we can see the driver and that person has a mobile phone to their ear, then there will be a prosecution Chris Rogers Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership

Offending motorists can receive a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

Drivers can also be fined £60 for not wearing a seatbelt.

Chris Rogers, from Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership, said: "This is part of a Europe-wide campaign, and Kent Police is throwing a lot of resources into it.

"We can get a good quality digital image of a driver - as good as any camera you've got at home, if not better.

"So, if we can see the driver and that person has a mobile phone to their ear, then there will be a prosecution."

The police vans will target offenders across Kent over a seven day period

During the Medway trial enforcement teams caught about 100 drivers a month using mobile phones or failing to belt up.

"People do know the law and unfortunately they seem to think they don't have to obey it," added Mr Rogers.

The partnership said talking or texting on a mobile phone had been shown to affect a driver's ability to the same extent as if they were over the legal alcohol limit.

It also said that 18 people who died in road crashes in Kent in 2007 may have survived if they had worn a seatbelt.