Thames Valley Police have given their backing to an important Bucks Free Press campaign calling on drivers to think before they use their mobile phones behind the wheel.

Three weeks ago, this paper launched the Hang Up! campaign, calling on drivers to stop flouting the law and endangering the lives of themselves and innocent people by using their phones while driving.

The campaign was given the thumbs up by council leaders and MPs who rallied together to support the initiatve last week.

Now, Thames Valley Police – who have also campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the dangers of being distracted by mobile devices having witnessed the consequences first-hand on a daily basis – have announced their support for the Hang Up! campaign.

Rob Heard, road safety sergeant for the joint operations roads policing unit for Hampshire and Thames Valley Police, said: “Using a mobile behind the wheel can have devastating consequences. Unfortunately people are still taking that risk to take that call, read or send a text, check social media but a moments inattention could be the difference between life and death.

“Anything that takes your eyes off the road could have lethal consequences and the impact on families is unimaginable grief.

“We are supportive of this (Bucks Free Press) road safety campaign that is urging people to think twice before even picking up a phone or looking down at it whilst driving, the simplest way is to turn it off or put on silent and put it out of sight.

“Statistics show that you are twice as likely to die texting as you are drink driving. It’s not worth the risk.”

Meanwhile, another Bucks MP has stepped forward to pledge his support for the campaign. David Lidington, cabinet office minister and MP for Aylesbury, said the campaign’s message is an important one.

He said: “I fully support the campaign by the Bucks Free Press to get people to put away their mobile phones while driving.

“Too many lives are lost needlessly each year to accidents caused by individuals who just aren’t paying enough attention to driving because they are using their mobile phone.

“I hope that this campaign helps to raise awareness of the real impact on peoples’ lives that this can have and that it results in more people putting away their mobile devices while driving.

“The message needs to be clear: if you’re driving, don’t use your mobile. If caught, you risk a serious penalty and a criminal record. Worse, you might have to live with the guilt of being responsible for the death or injury of another person.”