Lorry driver caught twice using mobile phone during police operation in Mansfield and Ashfield
Over 60 drivers were stopped by police during the crackdown
A lorry driver was spotted twice using his mobile phone within half an hour during a covert police operation in Mansfield and Ashfield.
The driver was first seen by a police observer travelling in a lorry on the A38 on Thursday morning, 29th January.
Officers were initially unable to locate the driver and he avoided sanctions but was seen again later that morning, leaving Castlewood Business Park still holding his phone.
Covert Operation Targets Local Concerns
More than 60 drivers were stopped during the operation, which ran from Monday to Friday, focusing on key issues of concern in the local area.
The operation targeted routes including the A60, A38, and M1 motorway, with 32 tickets issued for mobile phone offences.
Another 23 drivers were fined for not wearing seatbelts.
Three arrests were made for drink and drug driving, while another suspect was detained in connection with a domestic violence offence in the West Midlands.
Officers also seized two unroadworthy vehicles and another suspected to be a cloned vehicle.
Police Address Mobile Phone Use at the Wheel
Sergeant Jim Carrington, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, emphasised the risks associated with using a handheld phone while driving.
“Using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel greatly increases your risk of being involved in a collision,” Carrington said.
“It may not seem like a big deal to some of the people we pull over, but it really is.”
Carrington urged drivers to be vigilant about phone usage while driving, noting the potential for fatal and serious injuries.
Drivers should be aware that the offence carries a £200 fine and six penalty points.
“I urge all drivers to ensure their phone is either put away during journeys or appropriately mounted and connected to a hands-free system,” Carrington said.