Mobile phone offences down across Essex

The number of people caught using a mobile phone while driving has seen an almost 50% reduction in Essex since the legislation changed a year ago today.

On 1 March 2017, the penalty for using a mobile phone while driving increased from a £100 fine and three points, to a £200 fine and six penalty points on a driving licence.

Between March 2017 and February 2018 there were 2,456 mobile phone offences recorded in Essex. This compares with 4,614 for the previous 12 months.

Adam Pipe, casualty reduction manager for SERP, said:

“It is great that we have seen such a significant reduction but one offence is still too many.

“Although we have seen change in behaviour, the message isn’t getting through to some people.

“The risks of using a mobile phone, or being distracted by other means, can be fatal.

“Six points on your licence can be life-changing for a lot of people, being very close to having their licence removed. This can mean loss of work or loss of personal freedom, all for the sake of foolishly using their phone.

“We want to encourage everyone to not only take responsibility for their own road safety by putting their phones away, but for others too. If you know someone who has used or continues to use their phone while driving, tell them not to.

“It is simply not worth it.”

To mark the first anniversary of the introduction of the new penalties, THINK! is highlighting the chances of being caught in a national campaign which will run on radio, social media, on demand video and in shopping centres.

You can help reduce collisions and casualties – and make roads across Essex roads even safer – by reporting instances of poor and dangerous driving.

Click here to see how you can support the SERP Extra Eyes campaign.

01 March 2018