A CRACKDOWN on drivers who use their phones at the wheel has seen Dorset Police team up with Yellow Buses in a bid to stamp out the issue.
Operation Decker saw officers on board a ‘No Excuse’ branded Yellow Bus spotting drivers on their phones who were then pulled over by unmarked police cars.
The operation coincides with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) mobile phone campaign, targeting motorists who continue to use their handheld mobiles while driving.
In total 12 drivers were found using their phone behind the wheel, three of whom were driving without insurance and the vehicles were seized.
12 drivers using their phones
There were 10 various other offences discovered during the operation too, including driving without a licence, not having tax and no valid MOT.
Sergeant Lee Savage from Dorset No Excuse said: “We target the number of people being killed and seriously injured, it’s something we call the fatal five offences and using your mobile phone is one of those.”
READ MORE: 12 drivers stopped for being on their phones in Bournemouth
With ‘No Excuse’ at the heart of the operation, Sgt Savage said: “Motorists need to think of the bigger picture, it’s not just about using that mobile phone it’s what consequence that can have.
“You’re four times more likely to be involved in a serious collision if you’re using your mobile phone so that then not only impacts on the driver and the other person involved but it affects their whole family as well.”
Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “We’ve had brilliant support from Yellow Buses in order to make this work.
“One of the main issues is that we need our roads to be safer.
“When you’re in a car you should be concentrating on driving, not concentrating on texting, Twitter or anything to do with your phone.
“Officers have been able to use the bus to get a greater vantage point to spot motorists doing exactly that.
“We’ve had a very successful morning, in the first 45-minutes we found six people using their mobile phones and actually two of them had no insurance either.
“It isn’t any section of the population, it’s from a spread so we all need to get that little bit better.
“Please don’t use your mobile phone because you’re putting yourself and everyone else at risk.”
David Squire, MD of Yellow Buses, explained that the initiative was important to the company because it had been affected by motorists on their mobiles in the past who had crashed into some of the buses.
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Motorists caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving face a £200 fine and six points on their licence.
Drivers caught twice face a lengthy ban – which could also then lead to a £1,000 fine. While new drivers - those who have passed within the last two years - face having their licence revoked if caught just once.
New legislation being introduced next month will also make it clearer that the law includes using phones for reasons such as internet use, checking notifications and changing songs whilst driving.
The double decker was loaned to the force for free by Yellow Buses for the day to support the operation on Thursday, February 17.
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