Hundreds of Sussex drivers stopped for using phone behind the wheel

There were also 49 drivers who were found to not be wearing their seatbelt

Author: Adam GoacherPublished 27th Mar 2022

Sussex Police officers stopped hundreds of drivers using their phone at the wheel during a week-long crackdown.

Officers from Surrey and Sussex Road Policing Unit's Commercial Vehicle Unit used an unmarked HGV lorry and unmarked vehicles to catch motorists not deemed to be in full control of their vehicle.

In Sussex, more than 1,000 people were injured in road traffic collisions last year, and 46 of these were fatal.

During a week of action as part of Operation Tramline, 173 vehicles were stopped.

Of those, 105 were for offences related to mobile phone use.

Sergeant Huw Watts of the Surrey and Sussex Commercial Vehicle Unit, who led the team, said: “It is always disappointing to see that the road safety message is not being received by drivers on the fastest roads in our counties.

“Despite advances in vehicle technology drivers still feel the need to use their mobile phones whilst driving for a number of reasons, from texting and checking emails to watching film clips.”

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