WARWICKSHIRE is among the UK’s hotspots for drivers being fined for using their phones at the wheel.
A recent report from insurance comparison site GoCompare revealed Warwickshire was among the top 20 areas where drivers received the most fines for using a phone in the last five years.
The website’s study analysed FOI data from police forces across the UK to find which areas are reporting the most police fines and accidents related to using a mobile while driving.
The county came in at number 19 after penalties worth over £480,000 – the equivalent of 2,400 fines – were totted up.
In the number one spot was over £10million worth of fines issued by London’s Metropolitan Police, followed by over £3million for Northern Ireland and some £2.6million for Essex. Neighbouring West Midlands came in at number seven with some £1.3million.
According to police reports from the past five years, the winter season holds the highest ranking for fines throughout the year at 42,099 across December and January.
But the number of mobile-related fines has reduced from around 5,300 in January 2015 to just over 900 in the same month in 2020.
New restrictions banning divers from any non hands-free use of their phones, due to be introduced this year, are set to bring the figures down further.
