DRIVERS using mobile phones at the wheel are to be caught on video cameras and punished.
The crackdown comes as the M.E.N. reveals that new driving laws are being routinely flouted.
In just three hours on four roads - Deansgate, Great Ancoats Street and Mancunian Way in Manchester and Stopes Road in Little Lever - we caught more than 15 motorists driving while making calls or texting on their phones.
Under new laws which came into force last week, motorists who kill while 'avoidably distracted' can be charged with a new offence of causing death by careless driving and jailed for up to five years. That includes people using mobile phones or sat-navs, eating or drinking, adjusting car stereos or applying make-up at the time of fatal crashes.
At present it is against the law to use a hand-held mobile phone while at the wheel of a car with its engine running.
It is not against the law to eat at the wheel, but you could still be fined by police if they believe your actions impaired your driving.
Traffic chiefs have now revealed a pilot scheme using portable cameras to identify people using mobiles at the wheel.
The cameras will also target motorists who are eating if their driving appears erratic. Those people can be brought before the courts or sent on a driver improvement course. Drivers caught on a mobile phone can get a fixed penalty fine and three points on their licence.
The footage can also be used to support prosecutions against them if they crash and are charged with an offence.
The footage can also be used to support prosecutions against them if they crash and are charged with an offence.
Mike Downes, project manager of Drivesafe, the Greater Manchester casualty reduction partnership, said: "Despite all the publicity and enforcement, drivers are still running risks.
"GMP and Drivesafe continue to make every effort to reduce dangers caused by these selfish, uncaring individuals.
"We are planning a campaign to more rigorously enforce existing laws relating to use of mobile phones while driving and drivers blatantly distracted by their actions, resulting in loss of control of vehicles. Officers will deal with them directly, supported by video evidence."
Distraction driving is one of the major causes of crashes, according to Drivesafe. In the past two years, it has been identified in 406 road accidents, which have led to 25 people being killed or badly injured.
In 51 crashes, drivers using mobile phones have been identified as key contributory factors.
The new 'death by careless driving' offence closes a loophole in existing laws allowing careless or distracted drivers who kill to walk away with a £5,000 fine and licence points.
The government believes 150 drivers will be jailed every year under the new charge.
Mr Downes added: "My plea to drivers is to take full responsibility for their actions and not allow themselves to be distracted."
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trouble is you see this every day. Not just people on mobiles, or eating - I have seen people drinking out of 2 ltr bottles, shaving, applying make-up. I even saw one fella turn round and reach into his back seat whilst having one hand on the wheel. There are so many bad driving practices nowadays its quite scary to be on the roads with some of these people. I work for a company that makes road coverings and we have regular road safety campaigns each year. This keeps us up to date on the rights and wrongs of driving - maybe things like this could be made compulsory for everyone - either through work (especially for reps) or through a national safe driving campaign. If everyone just took a little notice, then maybe there would be less accidents and therefore less insurance premiums.
Can the MEN also stand on Deansgate and count the number of buses going through red lights, taxi drivers wearing iPods (saw two last night), Post Office vans going at 30mph down an alleyway taking a shortcut (between Spinningfields and Deansgate), smoking at the wheel and also bus drivers blocking box junctions.
It just proves what slaves people are to technology ... and the car , these people are low lifes, the same mentality as the thugs that hang about our streets.
150 people killed each year because drivers won't concentrate on just driving
How long have people like myself have asked when is something going to get done about this? Even this morning on a short run to ashton i saw at least five drivers (mostly women) using their phones while driving.This isnt going to stop it ,you need to instant ban these drivers on the spot for a week or a month for driving without due care or attention.And the same should be for not using indicators,as drivers think that we should all know where they are going? britains standard of driving is terrible.
OK, everyone does it, Have you seen the amount of police officers using radios and mobiles whilst driving.
Also, if the council sorted out Deansgate and area, we would not have the amount of traffic standing still whilst waiting for the traffic to move.
its been said before, but it needs saying again -
are these cameras going to target the "school run" as well ?
a car full of rowdy children is just as distracting as re-tuning your radio or eating a sandwich.