THE NEW police crackdown on drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel is a welcome initiative.

Even before the start of this week’s national campaign, officers in Bradford were already taking strong action to combat illegal mobile phone use.

Indeed, more than 500 motorists have been caught and penalised for using mobile devices in Bradford since the start of the Telegraph & Argus-inspired Operation Steerside, helping to make West Yorkshire one of the few police forces to have increased such prosecutions in the last year.

Crackdown on mobile phones at wheel is 'business as usual'

Despite those positive efforts, it only seems be the tip of the iceberg. A survey showing that 38 per cent of motorists in Yorkshire admitted to using their phone while behind the wheel suggests the problem remains stubborn, widespread and persistent.

Let’s hope the latest crackdown, combined with stiffer penalties that mean motorists now face six points and a £200 fine, can finally make this dreadful habit become as socially unacceptable as speeding or drink driving.

Of course, in this day and age, it’s not just phone calls and text messages that prompt people to reach for their mobiles while driving. The addictive nature of smartphones, which provide instant internet access, mean many now fall into the trap of checking social media accounts while driving.

Clearly, there’s a long way to go before this highly-dangerous problem is brought under control, but the work carried out in Bradford in recent months - now replicated at national level - is a step in the right direction.