29 September 2015 PCC supports campaign to target drivers ‘dicing with death’ Tim Passmore is supporting the Constabulary’s Police campaign to target motorists who “dice with death” using mobile phones behind the wheel. It comes as officers from the joint roads policing unit take part in a national campaign targeted at drivers who use mobile phones, led by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC). Patrols will be carried out in both counties in marked and unmarked vehicles or order to prevent and detect offences. The campaign started yesterday and will run until Wednesday (24-30 September). Suffolk Police and Crime Commission, Tim Passmore, said: “I fully support the Constabulary’s campaign to crack down on irresponsible drivers who use their mobile phones whilst driving. “The slightest distraction can end up in a collision so I urge all drivers to not be tempted, just switch your phone off. “I simply can’t understand why anyone would flout this law.” Chief Inspector Chris Spinks, head of Norfolk and Suffolk Roads Policing Unit, said: “Driving while using a mobile phone is dangerous because it distracts your attention from the road. You can’t second guess the actions of other road users and therefore you need to be alert and concentrating 100% to be in a position to deal with the unexpected. People who use their phone while driving are quite literally dicing with death. “Driving while using a mobile phone is becoming more socially unacceptable, as drink driving did over the years, and we will be pro-active in our approach to target motorists and raise awareness of the dangers.” Driving while using a mobile phone is one of the fatal four behaviours along with speeding, drink driving and not wearing a seatbelt that makes you more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a collision. Using a mobile phone behind the wheel is one of the biggest causes of serious and fatal collisions. Drivers caught using a phone behind the wheel face a £60 fine and having their licence endorsed with three penalty points. The fine can also rise to £1,000 if taken to court and £2,500 if driving a bus, coach or heavy goods vehicle.