“It is totally unacceptable to watch a film or programme whilst driving”

Warwickshire Police has expressed concern over a ‘worrying trend’ of drivers watching films and TV programmes on their mobile phones while on the road.

During the recent National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) mobile phone operation, which ran between 20 February and 13 March, officers detected four such offences.

This included a car driver who was watching a film on his mobile phone while driving at 55mph on the motorway. 

Sgt Shaun Bridle, Warwickshire Police, said: “It is totally unacceptable to watch a film or programme whilst driving or to interact in any way with a handheld mobile phone.  

“The safest thing to do for you and other road users is to wait until you are safely parked before using your mobile, or other device.”

As increased numbers of officers took to the roads to look for drivers using a handheld mobile phone, a further 39 drivers were caught carrying out the offence. 

 As well as 22 car drivers, 10 HGV drivers and 10 van drivers, this included the driver of a school bus with school children on board.  

In total, 88% of offenders were male and 93% were over 25 years old. More than half (58%) of offences were on motorways where speed limits are up to 70mph.

Philip Seccombe, police and crime commissioner and chair of Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, said: “It’s disappointing to see so many drivers placing others at risk by using their mobile phones while driving, whether by making calls or, even more alarmingly, by watching videos while behind the wheel. 

“This can never be acceptable and demonstrates why as a partnership we are putting so much emphasis on changing general attitudes to driving. Only by everyone becoming responsible road users can we achieve our aim of reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 50% by 2030.”

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