South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership
News
12 Mar 2024
COUNCILLOR BACKS MOBILE PHONE CAMPAIGN
Sheffield residents are being urged to give the road their full attention as part of road safety work across the county.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee at Sheffield City Council, is supporting the work of South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership to highlight dangerous and illegal road user behaviour in the hope of preventing collisions.
As well as being illegal, using a mobile phone while driving makes you four-times more likely to be involved in a collision – putting your own life and other lives at risk.
Cllr Miskell said: “It can be incredibly tempting to check your phone when a message comes in for a piece of news is delivered to your screen but that split second of taking your eyes off the road can be the difference between life and death.
“Life is Precious and ignoring that text message or not answering that phone call won’t change your life, however, taking your eyes off the road to send a reply could.
“We’re working with our partners to make South Yorkshire’s roads as safe as possible, and you can play your part by keeping your concentration on driving and not elsewhere in the car.”
In 2023 in South Yorkshire, more than 800 drivers were caught using a mobile phone while driving. Of those, 520 paid a fine and had points added to their licence, 201 were prosecuted and 25 attended an educational course.
And with the law changing in March 2022 to include ‘all uses’ of handheld mobile phones while driving, identifying those breaking the law is much easier.
“The law was updated to include a range of actions including illuminating the screen, scrolling, listening to voicemail – anything at all that involves touching or activating a handheld device,” said South Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector Peter Spratt.
“And the law applies while you’re waiting at traffic lights or queuing in traffic – even if your engine automatically switches itself off.
“The only time it is legal to use your mobile phone while driving a car is if you are safely parked up, or if it’s an emergency and it’s not safe to stop.
“To help avoid temptation, put your phone in your glove box, silence notifications or use one of the applications available to block use while driving.”
For more information on the law please visit: https://sysrp.co.uk/mobiles
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee at Sheffield City Council, is supporting the work of South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership to highlight dangerous and illegal road user behaviour in the hope of preventing collisions.
As well as being illegal, using a mobile phone while driving makes you four-times more likely to be involved in a collision – putting your own life and other lives at risk.
Cllr Miskell said: “It can be incredibly tempting to check your phone when a message comes in for a piece of news is delivered to your screen but that split second of taking your eyes off the road can be the difference between life and death.
“Life is Precious and ignoring that text message or not answering that phone call won’t change your life, however, taking your eyes off the road to send a reply could.
“We’re working with our partners to make South Yorkshire’s roads as safe as possible, and you can play your part by keeping your concentration on driving and not elsewhere in the car.”
In 2023 in South Yorkshire, more than 800 drivers were caught using a mobile phone while driving. Of those, 520 paid a fine and had points added to their licence, 201 were prosecuted and 25 attended an educational course.
And with the law changing in March 2022 to include ‘all uses’ of handheld mobile phones while driving, identifying those breaking the law is much easier.
“The law was updated to include a range of actions including illuminating the screen, scrolling, listening to voicemail – anything at all that involves touching or activating a handheld device,” said South Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector Peter Spratt.
“And the law applies while you’re waiting at traffic lights or queuing in traffic – even if your engine automatically switches itself off.
“The only time it is legal to use your mobile phone while driving a car is if you are safely parked up, or if it’s an emergency and it’s not safe to stop.
“To help avoid temptation, put your phone in your glove box, silence notifications or use one of the applications available to block use while driving.”
For more information on the law please visit: https://sysrp.co.uk/mobiles
