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Almost 8,000 drivers received fines for using their mobile phones while behind the wheel during a targeted week, new figures have revealed.
In November last year, 36 police forces spent a week targeting those on the phone, stopping 10,012 vehicles and detecting 7,966 mobile phone offences.
The week-long campaign followed on from similar schemes in May 2015, September 2015 and May 2016.
During other weeks when drivers were targeted, in the region of 2,000 mobile phone offences were recorded.
Forces are running a similar operation this week, which includes using unmarked vans, high vantage points and helmet cams to catch offenders, and digital campaigns to deter motorists from using their phones.
"This week, forces will be working to make driving distracted as socially unacceptable as drink-driving through enforcing strong deterrents and powerful messages to make people think twice about their driving habits," said National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing, chief constable Suzette Davenport. "Encouraging results from last year's campaign against mobile phone use show how effective new tactics and innovative approaches can be. Officers will continue to use intelligence-led tactics to target police activity and resources and catch repeat offenders."
Road safety charity Brake welcomed the clampdown, but said more needs to be done to deter motorists from using their phone behind the wheel.
"The law needs to be much tougher with this type of offence, which appears to be growing in numbers. Younger drivers, especially those aged between 25 and 34, simply aren't getting the message about the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving," said Gary Rae, campaigns director for Brake.
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