TOUGHER penalties for distracted drivers caught using their mobile phones behind the wheel has seen a significant drop in the number of motorists taking risks.

Officers from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU) joined a national crackdown campaign ahead of new legislation increasing fines and points issued for the offence.

A week-long operation was launched across the region in January with 131 motorists cautioned for texting, calling or updating social media from the driver’s seat ahead of stricter punishments coming into effect on March 1.

However, with the threat of a £200 fine and six penalty points facing would-be phone users, CDSOU have recorded a total of 46 fixed penalty notices being issued in the area since the start of the month.

Inspector Harry Simpson of CDSOU, said: “We use both marked and unmarked cars during our operations and all are equipped with on-board cameras to record any offences.

“While I believe the vast majority of drivers on our roads are behaving sensibly, we still caught 49 drivers who were putting themselves and others at serious risk.

“These people will now have to deal with the consequences of their actions.

“There are clearly some people who feel the law doesn’t apply to them.

“Even though our week of action is over they will discover our officers are making this offence a priority and that we have a zero-tolerance approach.”

Twenty-three of the drivers caught this month were driving in the County Durham and Darlington area, with a further 23 stopped by police in the Cleveland force area.

Three people have been summoned to appear in court in relation the offence.

Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner Ron Hogg, recently welcomed the new penalties for drivers who use a mobile phone whilst driving.

He said: “I am pleased to see the results of this campaign, and that the number of people flouting the law has reduced.

“That being said, there are still those who persist on using their phones when it is clearly illegal to do so.

“I urge drivers to be sensible before they cause unnecessary injury, or death, on our roads.”

The North-East initiative has been in support of a national awareness campaign.