A road safety charity says it wants tougher penalties for drivers caught using their mobile phone behind the wheel. The offence carries a penalty of 3 points and a £100 pound fine.
New figures show 30,000 drivers in the South West have been caught. The charity Brake says stricter rules must be put in place.
Laura Makin-Isherwood reports.
Families and members of the emergency services gathered in Bath yesterday to commemorate those who have died in other road accidents.
The services were organised by 'Road Peace', who say that more than 60 people have died on the roads in the Avon and Somerset area in the last year.
Jane Solomons reports.
It's Road Safety Week in the West Country.
As well as warnings about drink-driving, students in Bristol have been taught the dangers of using mobile phones at the wheel.
30,000 drivers in the South West have points on their licences for the offence. But Joe Burns from road safety charity, Brake says they want tougher penalties.
Drivers across our region are being told to avoid the dangers of using a mobile phone while on the road.
The 'Brake' charity says that more than 30 thousand drives in the South West have points on their licence for using a mobile phone at the wheel.
Today marks the start of 'Road Safety Week' across the UK.
Police in Dorset are looking out for drivers who are speeding or using mobile phones today.
The crackdown is taking place on the A30 in Sherborne and Shaftesbury as part of United Nations Global Road Safety Week.
Officers will also be giving advice to shoppers and schoolchildren. They'll be focusing on how to keep pedestrians safe.
Children in the south west want motorists to drive more slowly near their schools and homes, according to a road safety charity. 74% of youngsters surveyed by the group Brake agreed on slower speeds. The charity's begun a campaign for lower speeds as part of Road Safety Week.