Kent police is poised to launch a crackdown on motorists using mobile phones.

Extra patrols in both marked and unmarked vehicles will be on the county’s roads throughout February to catch anyone who continues to flout the law.

"We are pulling out all stops to make sure people do the right thing and switch off before they drive off." Said Insp Mark Flight of Kent Police’s traffic section.  He also appealed to employers to remind their staff not to use mobiles while on the road.

Since the new legislation was introduced in December 2003, Kent Police has issued more than 1,600 Fixed penalty notices (FPN) to people using hand-held phones while driving (Jan - Dec 04).  Each FPN carries a fine of £30.

Before the law changed, drivers could be prosecuted, but only if they were driving carelessly or were felt to be not in proper control.

Insp Flight said: “People continue to break the law and put their lives and the lives of other road-users at risk by using hand-held mobile phones. They just don't seem to understand how distracting these phone conversations are."

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), research shows that motorists using mobile phones – whether hand-held or hands-free - are four-times more likely to crash because of the distraction.

The reactions of drivers using mobile phones are 50 per cent slower than that of average drivers, according to research carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory sponsored by insurer Direct Line*.  In this research, at 70mph normal braking distance was 102ft (31m); with a hand-held mobile phone it increased to 148ft (45m).

Typically drivers using phones wander about on the road and vary their speed; they also miss more road signs, and are less able to keep a safe distance from the car in front.

Insp Flight said: “It is not safe to use a mobile phone while driving, so switch off before you drive off.”