Police crackdown on distracted drivers

More than 80 people are being prosecuted after a police operation to crack down on drivers distracted behind the wheel.

Hampshire and Thames Valley officers patrolled motorways in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire.

Of the 88 people being prosecuted, 55 were caught using their mobile phones during the five-day operation.

A hired Scania lorry cab was used to allow officers to spot offences by other commercial vehicle drivers.

'Very disappointing'

Sgt Paul Diamond, who led the operation, which finished on Friday, said: "This issue was raised as a problem to us by concerned lorry drivers who often witnessed offences that the police couldn't see from ground level.

"This is the second time we've hired the Scania cab. It has proved itself invaluable. We know for sure that we were able to detect at least 28 offences from the high-up vantage point that the cab gives us, that we could not have spotted from ground level."

The operation, by the newly formed Joint Operations Unit Roads Policing Unit, was carried out along the M27 and M3, M4, M40 and M25.

Sgt Diamond said: "The number of people using their phones is still very disappointing. If you are caught using your mobile phone whilst driving you will face a £60 fine and three points on your licence."