If you are commuting around County Durham and Teesside this morning, you'd better make sure that you keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone.

Police are launching a week-long crackdown on mobile-phones behind the wheel.

The campaign will be carried out by officers from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit.

Government figures reveal between 2007 and 2012 480 crashes saw either deaths or people seriously injured due to using mobiles at the wheel.

From 1st January to 31st December 2014, a total of 891 drivers were issued with fixed penalty tickets for using a mobile phone at the wheel across the Cleveland and Durham police force areas.

A further 51 tickets were issued for instances when the driver was classed as not being in proper control of their vehicle - for example, consuming food or applying make-up while driving.

Chief Insp Alison Jackson from the CDSOU, said:

"Driving any vehicle requires and deserves your full attention.

"To do anything else puts your life, the lives of any passengers and other road users at risk.

"Driving while using a mobile phone is one of the 'fatal four' contributory factors in serious road traffic collisions.

"You are more likely to be involved in a serious or even fatal collision as a result of your poor judgment in using a phone.

"Texting is just as bad as making or receiving a call.

"Taking your eyes off the road for even a second can have serious consequences.

"Over the next week our officers will be making this offence a priority and will stop anyone they see either using a mobile phone, or for some other reason not having full control of their driving."

Those who are caught receive a £100 fine and have their licence endorsed with three penalty points.

If the case goes to court the offender can also be disqualified from driving or riding, and get a maximum fine of £1,000.
Drivers of buses or goods vehicles could get a maximum fine of £2,500.