Lincolnshire Police is planning a blitz on drivers this month who continue to use mobile phones while driving.

The force says people must not use their phones whilst driving and if you know someone is driving, decline to speak or engage with them until they stop their car and park or finish their journey.

Drivers using their mobile phone while driving has been the top driver concern in the RAC Report on Motoring for four of the last five years.

Research shows it's a minority of drivers who still continue to use mobile phones. It risks the lives and safety of others and is now widely seen as socially unacceptable. The law was introduced because research shows using a mobile phone while driving causes impairment.

Drivers are still distracted by the use of hands free phones and may still commit offences of careless or dangerous driving. Police advise users to turn them off and put them out of reach.

Using a mobile phone, including hands free, while driving causes impairment similar to that of a drink driver. If you use a mobile while driving, you are:

Are 4 times more likely to be involved in a collision

• Are far less likely to notice and react to hazards
• Take much longer to react to any hazards you do see
• You can look directly at hazards yet fail to see them
• Show poor lane discipline
• Make more variable speed choices

This is often a real surprise to people who would never drink then drive but would consider using a phone.

Lincolnshire Police prosecutes drivers who use mobile phones all year, but in February it will focus on mobile phone use.

It is unsafe to use a mobile phone and that's why it wants people to join the growing number who find it unacceptable as well as it being an offence. #StandingUpForHangingUP

Police Sergeant Adie Scargill, Roads Policing Unit, Lincolnshire Police, said:" We know the vast majority of people find it completely unacceptable for drivers to use a mobile phone while driving. The people who do this are in the minority but still they continue to put their own and others lives at risk.

"We use a range of tactics to identify drivers, Operation Bus is one of these, where we used a bus to spot drivers on their phones. They were then stopped by officers shortly afterwards. We have launched Operation Snap, which is a portal when dashcam footage can be downloaded. This means anyone can record evidence and send it through to us.

"Protecting people from harm is one of our priorities and this includes road safety. We are all responsible for keeping our roads users safe."

Lincolnshire Police further warn that drivers risk a £200 fixed penalty ticket and 6 penalty points if they use a mobile phone while driving. If the matter is dealt with at court, the penalties can increase with car drivers being fined up to £1000 and HGV and bus drivers up to £2500, they may also be disqualified from driving.

If you have passed your driving test in the last two years, you'll lose your licence. https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points-endorsements/new-drivers

Unless you are safely parked you cannot use your phone while in traffic or queuing at lights or if you are supervising a learner driver.

You can only use your mobile phone in a vehicle to call 999 in response to a genuine emergency where it is unsafe or impracticable to stop.