POLICE are clamping down on drivers using a mobile phone at the wheel during week of national action.

Officers from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU) will educate drivers and enforce the law where appropriate.

The use of mobile phones whilst driving is a major contributory factor in crashes and one of the Fatal 4 biggest causes of road deaths – along with inappropriate speed, not wearing a seat belt and drink or drugs.

But the growth in the use of smart phones is being highlighted as a possible reason for an increased use of the phone in the car.

Drivers are now not only tempted to make and answer calls but also to answer and send emails as well as respond to social network site alerts.

This has increased the likelihood of drivers being distracted and therefore the risk of being involved in a serious collision is increasing.

It is illegal to hold a phone or sat nav while driving – you must have hands-free access, like a windscreen mount or built-in sat nav and it cannot block your view of the road. Drivers must also be in full control of their vehicle at all times, including at traffic lights or in queuing traffic, and can be stopped by police and prosecuted if they think they are not in control and are distracted.

Drivers flouting the law could kill someone so, if caught, they face six penalty points and a £200 fine.

Chief Inspector, Graham Milne, from CDSOU, said: “We cannot stress enough how serious an offence this is. It only takes seconds of being distracted at the wheel to cause a serious collision which can cause catastrophic effects.

“Last year across Cleveland and Durham we saw 36 fatal collisions, many of them with contributing factors such as drivers using their mobile phones.

“Be in no doubt, you can kill someone. Our message is simple– put the phone away while driving.”