30 nabbed for mobile menace (From Penarth Times)

30 nabbed for mobile menace

THIRTY Vale residents have been nabbed for using mobile phones while driving in the first two weeks of a local police crackdown.

South Wales officers, in conjunction with other Welsh forces, have released "disappointing" results following the campaign which show that across Wales, 483 people were caught misusing mobiles while driving.

A total of 174 people were caught in the South Wales Police catchment area. Two were given a summons for driving without due care and attention and 172 were given a fixed penalty.

The campaign ran from March 4 -18 and was also supported by the National Assembly, the Road Safety Council of Wales and local authorities.

Sergeant Nigel Whitehouse, community safety traffic officer for South Wales Police, said: "We are extremely disappointed with the high numbers of drivers caught using mobile phones irresponsibly in such a short period of time.

"The figures highlight that this is becoming a huge problem throughout the Principality with a direct bearing on road safety."

He added: "In view of the results, we will continue to clamp down on motorists who irresponsibly use mobile phones while driving and put themselves and other road users at risk."

Across South Wales, the breakdown was: Merthyr - 12; Rhondda Cynon Taff - 19; Cardiff - 36; Vale of Glamorgan - 30; Bridgend - 12; Neath and Port Talbot - 18; Swansea - 47.