POLICE were today launching a new "zero tolerance" crackdown on motorists who use mobile phones while driving.
They joined safety campaigners to unveil the "careless talk costs lives" initiative because drivers continue to flout the law banning use of a phone while at the wheel without a hands free kit.
The campaign involves advertising and a hard line approach by police to tackle those who talk or text while motoring.
Today police officers in Bury were stopping motorists caught chatting on their phones and either warning or fining them.
Other areas will be targeted in coming weeks.
New advertising features a blood-spattered mobile phone that is being posted on buses and billboards across Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire. They feature messages like "careless talk costs lives", "some things are better left unsaid", "the most expensive call of your life" and "the art of conversation is dead".
Countless
Spokesman Andrew Wake said: "Every day we still see countless drivers engrossed in conversations on their mobile phones despite the fact it's illegal.
"Making or taking calls and sending or reading texts is a serious distraction and clearly these people have little regard for their own lives and the safety of pedestrians and other drivers.
"No phone call can be so important that you'd risk endangering yourself and others and we've got to do something to make this offence socially unacceptable.
"The simple message of this campaign is `do the right thing, switch it off'."
Chief Insp Haydn Roberts added: "Using a hand-held mobile phone when you're driving is highly irresponsible and against the law.
"Our officers are supporting this campaign with enforcement and we'll be taking a zero tolerance approach to the offence throughout the county."
A new law specifically banning the use of a mobile phone while driving was introduced in December, 2003.
Those who flout the law can be issued with a '30 fixed-penalty fine rising to a maximum of '1,000 if the case goes to court.
DO you still use your mobile as you drive? Have your say.
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Why not start with the Bus Drivers, Lorry Drivers, Delivery Drivers, Taxi Drivers who don't appear to understand nor obey the new laws.
Bus Drivers, 7.5 Tonne Van drivers and HGV drivers are the worst culprits, their arrogant disrespectful drving around the city centre is testimony to this. Surprise surprise, they are the biggest culprits at phoning whilst driving. Where are GMP's traffic police? Too busy catching people for going 4 or 5 mph over the speed limit.
Jezza, It does not matter who or what they drive, it is against the law to do it so do not do it. If your Phone is in a cradle and has a hands free kit (Or Bluetooth - Which most phones do) then you are OK. The number of times I get a dirty look from drivers when I point at them to tell them to get off the phone is amazing.
About time too. As a motorcyclist drivers using mobiles really annoys me.
The police have themselves to blame they dont police the roads any more ? I see so many offences during a normal days driving .The standard of driving is getting worse because their is very little police presence on the roads any more,So most people know the chances of getting caught "Bad driving" Is very low ..Even today i saw a motorcyclist driving on the pavements on ashton old road without a crash helmet "And probably no insurance Ect" And two police cars drove past him????No wonder people take chances on answering their phones while driving??????
Today police officers in Bury were stopping motorists caught chatting on their phones and either warning or fining them.
Warning? Just fine these idiots, it'[s the only language they understand.
mm
I think mobiles are great, they keep you in touch with someone when necessary, but it seems to have all got out of hand. You see groups of girls all talking into mobiles and not to each other. I go in the smoke room at work and it is ful of folk all talking and texting their phones and not socialising with each other. They are becoming a menace.
A couple of weeks ago I was nearly flattened by a driver who sailed through a red traffic light whilst talking on his phone. He stopped at the next set of traffic lights, so I cycled after him, bashed on his window and uttered a few choice words about his idiocy.
He ignored me, of course. As the phone call was so important he'd risk killing people for it, he wasn't going to let an irate cyclist put an end to it.
I should have used my phone to photograph his car and post the picture to my website to shame him.
Heard it all before, yawn,yawn, Pity they don't show Zero Tolerance in our courts if the offenders ever reach there of course.