The Mercury’s anti texting and driving campaign, ‘Why Risk It?’ and new research into mobile phone use on the roads has sparked a crackdown by Kent Police and KCC.

We launched our awareness campaign after the high profile acquittal of van driver Philip Sinden, who was cleared of causing the death of cyclist Daniel Squire by dangerous and careless driving. The debate prompted lots of questions in the community – sparking our pro-active stance.

The success of ‘Why Risk It?’ coupled with KCC’s findings, prompted the latest joint effort.

Steve Horton, road safety team leader at Kent County Council, said: “Using a mobile phone while driving impairs reaction time, reduces concentration levels, leads to poorer judgment of speed and distance and reduces your field of vision.

“It’s a fallacy to believe we can concentrate on two things at once. The reality is one activity will dominate the other.

“It’s not simply splitting your attention 50:50, it’s more like 95:5 with the task seeming the most important taking over – with drivers using a phone that means the call, text, situation update completely takes over from the driving.”

The study was conducted on 330 people. The findings claim one in three drivers check their phones on the