More than 1,500 motorists on Teesside have been fined in the last year for using their mobile phones while driving.

Cleveland Police today slammed the figures, claiming no phone conversation was worth the risk to life involved.

Middlesbrough was the worst offending district with 619 fixed penalty notices issued in the 12 months ending June 30 this year.

It was followed by Stockton with 551 mobile phone offenders, Hartlepool with 235 and Redcar and Cleveland with 137.

The total number of mobile phone driving offences recorded in the Cleveland Police area in the year was 1,542.

Acting Inspector Gary Hatton, head of Cleveland Police Road Policing Unit, said: “It is well known and accepted that using your mobile phone while driving is a major contributory factor to collisions and this is why it is an offence.

“Even using a hands-free kit can still be a distraction to the driver.

“Our message is to not use your phone at all, switch off your phone before you start driving and pick up any messages at the other end.”

Acting Insp Hatton said there remained a “hardcore” of motorists on Teesside who continue to flout the law by using their phones when behind the wheel.

“It is unacceptable that they would endanger their own life and other people’s lives by doing this,” he added.

“We see first hand the misery that these collisions cause and we want to prevent those crashes occurring.”

The law changed in February 2007, making drivers caught using phones while driving liable to a £60 fixed penalty fine and three penalty points on their licence.

If the fine is not paid within 28 days the case will go to court and the penalty can be increased to £90.

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Thousands of cars were checked in a traffic operation aimed at taking travelling thieves off the roads.
A team of more than 20 police officers mounted Operation Redcarpet during the weekend, which saw checkpoints set up around one of the busiest routes through the region.

Cars which passed through the monitors around Dalton Park, off the A19 at Murton, had their number plates scanned by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems.

Any cars which were flagged up by the equipment were then pulled over and checked.

Two thousand cars passed through the posts on Saturday, triggering the ANPR equipment 181 times, with a further 126 alerts recorded yesterday as a further 1,500 vehicles passed through the locations.

Inquiries led to six cars seized for being driven without insurance and other motoring offences, including driving without a licence.

One man was arrested for driving while disqualified.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “This was launched to target travelling criminals who strike on the coast of East Durham, and Seaham in particular, and aimed to reassure retailers and shoppers in the area that there are efforts by police to make is a safe place to visit and work.”

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A driving test candidate had his test cancelled after an examiner refused to sit in the car, saying it was too dirty.

Mr Hyde arrived at the Oxford Driving Test Centre in his father’s five year old Volkswagen Golf, but the examiner failed to even set foot in the car due to croissant crumbs on the seat.

Mr Hyde said: “I turned up and everything was normal. Then as soon as the examiner opened the passenger door, he said “I can’t take you out in this’

“I couldn’t believe it. He said he came to work in suit trousers and expected to sit on a tidy seat.

“It’s really annoying. He could have at least given us five minutes to clean it, but there was just no negotiation.

A Driving Standards Agency spokesman said: “If the candidate makes a complaint or asks for a refund, we’ll look into it when we receive it.”

Simon Bush of Britannia Driving School said: “First impressions in all walks of life are very important and especially when taking the driving test. Be well dressed and groomed. The appearance of you and your vehicle make a greater impression than anything you say, and are crucial. Remember: there is no second chance to make a first impression.” 

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