Operation to Clamp Down on Motorist Using Mobile Phone Use
Police in East Herts have carried out another day of action aimed at targeting motorists using their mobile phones behind the wheel.
The operation, known as Drive Alive, began with a pilot run on London Road in Hertford on Monday October 11. On Tuesday, November 22, officers were back at the same location.
Officers positioned along the road were on the lookout for drivers using their phones. A total of 17 motorists were pulled over during the operation, all of whom were using their mobile phones. Thirteen TORs (traffic offence reports) were issued.
Studies have shown that your reaction times are 50 per cent slower if you use a mobile phone while driving and you are four times more likely to have a collision. Even careful drivers can be distracted by a call or text – and a split-second lapse in concentration could result in a crash.
I am saddened to see it seems the message is taking time to get through. Although we have received a really good response from the motorists we spoke to, the dangers of using mobile phones are still being ignored. We will continue to carry out these operations and I hope to see a reduction in the number of people we have to stop.
Officers also carried out some speed monitoring in Hertford Heath. Eleven people were stopped for exceeding the 30 mph limit in London Road. Three people were issued with TORs and seven people were given advice.