Traffic officers on the M1 pulled over 101 motorists during a five-day operation targeting mobile phone use behind the wheel, with 46 of them facing penalty points and fines.
The operation, which ran from October 12-16, used an unmarked HGV to spot offenders. Of the 101 drivers stopped, 46 were dealt with for making calls, texting, using navigation apps or otherwise interacting with their phones while driving.
HGV drivers among those penalised
Four of those stopped were HGV drivers, a group police said posed an even greater risk to other road users. Officers noted many of the penalised drivers were using maps and navigation apps, holding their handsets either in their hands or in mounted cradles.
Anyone caught holding a mobile device faces six penalty points and a £200 fine. Police also warned that interacting with a secured device could still lead to prosecution for offences such as driving without due care and attention.
Police warning on secured devices
Sergeant Jim Carrington, of the Roads Policing Team, said: "The good news is that more and more drivers now understand that holding a mobile phone at the wheel is not acceptable."
"The bad news is that there are clearly others out there who think they can interact with a device held in a secure mount. As several drivers have just found out to their cost, that is simply not the case, because if you are searching for an address or looking for an alternative route, you are not paying proper attention to the road in front of you."
He added: "The same goes for searching for a particular song or skipping the adverts in your favourite podcast. Both actions may seem innocuous, but they can each have catastrophic consequences for you and other road users."
Serious cases could lead to prison
In the most serious cases, where other road users are killed or seriously injured, the use of a mobile device in any capacity could be treated as an aggravating factor.
Carrington said: "So, if this sounds like you, please take a moment to think about your habits behind the wheel and the potential consequences of your actions. At best, those consequences could be a fine and points on your licence; at worst, they could lead to a lengthy prison sentence."
