Is your driving distracted?

Despite warnings on the dangers of being distracted by mobile phones while driving, people continue to drive around Cheshire staring at their knees instead of the road or trying to negotiate traffic with one hand on the wheel.

Police in Cheshire have been clamping down on those texting or making phone calls while driving this month as part of an operation aimed at educating drivers and prosecuting repeat offenders.

Last year over a 12 month period Cheshire officers issued 2,041 tickets to drivers using a mobile phone and 419 tickets for not being in proper control.

PC Eoin Anderson said: “We want to drive the message home that being distracted at the wheel causes collisions, injuries and in some cases, death.

“Nationally 21 people died last year as a result of using a mobile phone while driving.

“We are the ones who pick up the pieces and have to tell the families when a tragic collision happens and we would rather stop you in your tracks and give you a ticket than knock on your family’s door telling them you won’t be coming home.

“We are determined to make Cheshire roads safer for all those who use them, and we know that being distracted at the wheel can be a killer. So we will be out and about ticketing anyone we see using their mobiles while driving.”