Welcome to Road Safety Wales
Gwent Police Assistant Chief Constable Bill Horne will launch the All Wales Mobile Phone Enforcement Campaign, at Magor services on Tuesday March 13, 2007 at 11.00am on behalf of the four Welsh Forces. In partnership with Capita Symonds the four Welsh forces aim to remind drivers and passengers of the dangers and subsequent consequences of using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving.
With effect from February 27, 2007 using a mobile phone whilst driving became an endorsable offence and carries a fine of £60 and 3 penalty points.
Chief Inspector John Pavett , Roads Policing Unit, Gwent Police said:
"Making and receiving calls and SMS texting whilst driving is still apparent on Welsh roads. We treat the problem seriously and target vehicles 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Responsible drivers switch off their phones whilst driving. If you must keep your phone switched on we recommend that you pull over where it is safe and convenient to do so to make or receive a call. This should be in emergency situations only. If you do use a mobile phone whilst driving the equipment must be totally hands free. This means that the phone should be secured in a phone holder, or by other means, to avoid the need to hold the phone.
Although most road users are fully aware of the potential consequences of using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving, police officers throughout Wales will be clamping down on those who continue to ignore the law, endangering all road users. The two-week enforcement campaign will run throughout Wales from March 13 to March 27. There will be zero tolerance throughout the campaign and offenders will be prosecuted."
Supporting the launch will be fire fighters from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. Road Traffic Collision Reduction Officer for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Dave Ansell said:
"We work closely with our communities throughout the year to advise on a number of safety issues effecting them. Road safety is always key to our talks, particularly to young people who are statistically more at risk. We'll be raising awareness of these new penalties during our presentations and if these are not enough to put drivers off using mobile phones we can talk about the devastation at the scene of the incidents we attend on a daily basis.
We welcome this new legal move and hope it deters people from driving whilst using their handsets which is a distraction they can do without."
