MORE than 900 motorists received driving bans or penalty points after being caught using a mobile phone while behind the wheel – in 2022 alone.

Northumbria Police is stepping up efforts to deter people from using their mobile phone while driving as part of a national road safety campaign coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), which starts this Sunday, February 26.

The campaign will see Northumbria’s dedicated Motor Patrols and Operation Dragoon teams increase patrols across the region’s roads – and take action against anybody found to be using a mobile phone whilst driving.

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In 2022, a total of 933 motorists across the Northumbria Police force area received penalty points or driving bans after being caught using a mobile phone whilst driving – a significant increase from the previous two years, police said.

Sergeant Glen Robson said: "It might seem like a small thing, just momentarily picking up your phone to read a quick text or to give somebody a call – but we’ve seen so often that these decisions can have devastating consequences.

"Every single year, we investigate dozens of serious or fatal road traffic collisions and a difficult job, informing a family that their loved one has died on our roads. But that pain they feel is exasperated when they learn it’s as a result of a mobile phone."

He added: "We all have a responsibility to make our roads as safe as they possibly can be. When you're getting in your car, do not put others at risk - keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel."