THE police officer in charge of the Bradford crackdown on dangerous drivers has told “selfish” motorists to stop using mobile phones at the wheel, ahead of new legislation that will double the penalties for such offences.

Sergeant Cameron Buchan, who heads up West Yorkshire Police’s Operation Steerside, was speaking on the eve of a change in legislation governing the punishments for people who are caught using a phone while driving.

From tomorrow, drivers stopped while using a mobile phone will receive six penalty points and a £200 fine – an increase from three points and a £100 fine.

The new legislation also takes away the option to take part in any driver improvement course.

Sgt Buchan said: “One second of distraction is all it takes – even the people that look down and end up ignoring it.

“Just do not use it. The easiest thing to do is to turn it off, but let’s be realistic, most people are not going to do that.

“Generally speaking, just don’t use it. Do not use your phone at all. What could happen is unpredictable.

“Everyone has a story of seeing people driving while using a phone. It is selfish, it is unthinking.

“Road safety, and safety, should be in the forefront of your mind whilst driving – nothing else. Phones and everything else should take a back seat.”

On the change in legislation, Sgt Buchan said: “I welcome it. At the top and bottom, it is welcomed. It is one of the biggest causes of fatal accidents, speeding being the number one.

“It is difficult to quantify and to say just how dangerous such a thing is. You are driving 1.5-tonnes of metal and plastic at whatever speed and the phone will distract you. And with a phone to your ear you are driving one-handed.

“Doing even 30mph in 1.5 tonnes, the risk grows exponentially.”

Since Steerside started at the beginning of February last year, officers have caught 708 drivers using a mobile phone at the wheel.

Using a mobile phone, held in the hand, while driving or while stopped with the engine on, has been illegal since December 2003, said police.

In 2014, 2015 and 2016, West Yorkshire Police recorded 9,206 offences of using a phone at the wheel.

An RAC survey found that the number of drivers who owned up to using a mobile phone increased from eight per cent in 2014, to 31 per cent last year.

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