YouTube watching drivers among 132 stopped during Norfolk Polikce month of action
A pair of drivers were caught watching YouTube videos on their mobile phones during a police operation this month.
Norfolk Constabulary’s Operation Tramline involved officers using an HGV tractor unit, provided by National Highways, to carry out patrols on drivers across the A11 and A47.
Between March 1 and 8, 132 vehicles were stopped – including 24 HGVs, 37 LGVs, 68 private vehicles and three others -with 130 offences detected.
The offences included 10 using their mobile phones, 22 not wearing a seatbelt (17 of which were HGV drivers), 10 speeding, 19 without insurance and 17 driving without due care and attention.
Officers issued 96 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs), arrested three people, and issued words of advice to 20 drivers.
There were some particularly shocking examples of driving with one driver seen to be doing her make up at the wheel, leaning on the steering wheel and looking in her rear-view mirror and a HGV driver who was caught filming police officers during the operation on his mobile phone.
Sergeant Ade Hales, of the joint Roads and Armed Policing Team, said: “It is totally unacceptable to watch a TV programme, film or music video whilst driving on a road, especially in these cases which were on a dual carriageway.
“People must keep their full concentration on the task at hand, driving, and not engaging or interacting with any devices. Any interaction with a mobile phone, including the recording of other road users, will result in prosecution, and could receive a £200 fine and 6 points on your driving licence.
“There is growing popularity of Facetime, WhatsApp and Snapchat video calls, with YouTube streaming live and recorded content which poses a significant risk and danger to other road users. Not only are you taking your own life into your own hands, but that of others as well.
“We will always prosecute such offences. The safest thing to do is to wait until you have stopped and parked safely before interacting with any device.”
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