Police urge road users to shop other drivers using phones at the wheel - from their phones
POLICE in Wales have urged road users to report drivers using phones at the wheel by uploading video footage.
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Four Welsh police forces are working to "educate road users on the risks of using a mobile phone while driving" and have asked fellow drivers to upload footage of anyone using a phone at the wheel - but presumably only if they are a passenger themselves.
The plea is part of a campaign with GoSafe that aims to make roads safer.
They also stated that it "doesn’t take one of our officers to catch those using their phones at the wheel".
They add that people can "upload evidence, such as footage from dashcams, GoPro-type cameras, or mobile phones, to most forces these days."
A statement from Dyfed-Powys Police read: "This means that anyone could be capturing evidence of offending that could be used to prosecute a phone using driver."
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The week sees the launch of the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) "National Using a Mobile Phone Whilst Driving" Operation.
They want phones to be switched off or put away completely.
Superintendent Clark Jones-John said: “Driving and using a mobile phone do not mix. It is dangerous and could end in disaster.
"While driving our focus should only be on the road and our driving environment.
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“By putting our mobile phones aside for the duration of a journey we will be playing our part in keeping our roads safe.”
A recent RAC Report on Motoring recorded that the use of mobile phones while driving has been the top concern for motorists in recent years.
Research shows motorists using their mobile phone while driving have worse lane discipline and take longer to react to hazards; risking the safety of other drivers.
The police statement added: "Research has shown that if you use a mobile phone while driving you are four times more likely to be involved in a collision and your reaction times are two times slower if you text and drive than if you drink drive; which increases to three times slower if you use a handheld phone."
They added: "Just like wearing a seatbelt at the start of a journey is second nature, why not turn your mobile off at the start of every journey?
"Or, place your mobile in a signal blocking pouch or out of reach in your glove compartment?
"You can even set up your mobile to automatically send a message to anyone who calls or texts you informing them you are driving and will contact them as soon as you have reached your destination."
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According to road safety site think.gov.uk drivers are four times more likely to be in a crash if using a phone.
Reaction times are two times slower when texting and driving, and this increases to three times if using a handheld phone.
Even careful drivers can be distracted by a call or text – and a split-second lapse in concentration could result in a crash.
At just 30 mph a car travels 100 feet in 2.3 seconds.
