Driver caught using laptop in crackdown in Hampshire

A motorist has been caught driving while using a laptop and drinking coffee at the same time.

Hampshire police said the driver was observed during a crackdown on distracted motorists last week.

Another man was seen eating a pear with a knife while driving while a third motorist was seen writing down the answers to a quiz on the radio.

Officers used a hired lorry, two marked cars and a motorcycle for the crackdown on the M27 and the M3 over five days.

The force hired the unmarked HGV cab for the initiative in order to get a good viewpoint from which they could observe and film offenders.

Commercial vehicles

Sgt Paul Diamond said: "Forty-one of these offences would not have been identified by regular patrol vehicles and so this operation was very much a success.

He said as a result, 84 vehicles were stopped due to offences being witnessed, and of these 55% were commercial vehicles.

Thirty-nine drivers were prosecuted for driving while using mobile phones and 26 drivers for being distracted or not in proper control of their vehicles.

Sgt Diamond added: "This should send a very loud message out to motorists. If you are caught using your mobile phone whilst driving you will face a £60 fine and three points on your licence.

"Should you crash whilst driving distracted or on your phone, causing death by careless driving is punishable by 14 years in prison and we will seek to robustly prosecute anyone committing these offences.

"Do not put yourself or others at risk."

A further 48 other offences were identified, ranging from defective tyres to drivers not having had enough rest.