NATIONAL Highways says it identified more than 750 seat belt and mobile phone offences along a short section of the M6 near Warrington earlier this month – the highest number at a single site in a study which has visited numerous sites across the Midlands and South West.
At one point, a high-visibility camera placed in the roadworks south of junction 23 of the M6 at Haydock, was spotting an offence every 90 seconds – compared to the average at all other sites of one every six minutes.
The national pilot project collecting data on illegal mobile ‘phone use and the number of both drivers and passengers failing to wear seat belts was in the region – and sited within roadworks – for the first time during the first two weeks of this month.
The government company, which operates, maintains and improves the country’s network of motorways and major A roads, has been working with engineering company AECOM on the pilot project to collect data on offences as part of its work to boost safety.
Jamie Hassall, National Highways manager for the data collection project, said: “We wanted to find out whether driving through a substantial section of roadworks with barriers, a reduced speed limit and other traffic management would mean drivers and passengers modifying their behaviour.
“The findings are disappointing to say the least with drivers spotted using a mobile phone almost every five minutes and lots of drivers and passengers simply not bothering to belt up. Hopefully, these results will be a wake-up call to motorway users – especially as we head into the busy Christmas and New Year travel period.”
One van driver (above) was spotted using his mobile phone but not using his seat belt – putting himself and other road users at risk
