by Gerry Warren

gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk

Drivers are now using their phones to post Twitter and Facebook messages, a shock study by the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership has revealed.

It says there is also evidence that more motorists are continuing to make and receive calls without handsfree kits while driving, despite the risks and penalties.

Now the Partnership is launching a crackdown in the Canterbury area on the dangerous practice, which has resulted in at least 46 crashes in the county in the last three years, including three fatalities.

Social networking service Twitter analysed messages or tweets posted over just one week and found one driver had posted: “I can’t believe how bad my spelling was in my last tweet. A testiment to not tweeting while driving!” Another said “Tweeting while driving, watch out for PC plod.”

Warning boards are going up at fixed yellow safety camera sites to remind drivers that camera vans are enforcing mobile phone and seat belt laws as well as speed limits.

Canterbury has two fixed safety cameras and five safety camera van sites and the brightly-coloured warning boards are being erected at the fixed sites during January.

Katherine Barrett of the KMSCP said: “More and more people are using smart phone technology and an RAC report said that one in five people admitted to accessing email, Facebook and Twitter while driving.

“The report also revealed that the number of drivers admitting to using their mobile phone without a hands-free kit while driving had more than trebled in a year. We are also concerned by roadside surveys which have shown that one in 10 motorists were not wearing a seat belt.”

The penalty for not wearing a seat belt is a £60 fine and for being caught using a mobile phone while driving is a £60 fine and three penalty points.
Katherine Barrett added: “Clearly, drivers do not think they will get caught, but that kind of attitude can lead to tragic and even fatal consequences. Using a mobile phone to make calls or text while driving is sheer madness.”

For more information about safety cameras across Kent and Medway visit www.kmscp.org <http://www.kmscp.org/>