FOI 0875-2023/24- Mobile phone driving offences
Request:
Q1.I would like to know how many drivers have been caught using a mobile phone at the wheel from:
- Nov 2022 – Nov 2023
- Nov 2021 – Nov 2022
If possible, I would like this broken up by reason for phone use – call, text, social media and so on. If not, the overall number of those using phones while driving is fine.
Response:
Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police.
I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.
Decision
Q1. Information in relation to fines given for motorist using a mobile phone, which are captured by the Safety Camera Vans, is already published on the North Yorkshire Police website under the Safety Camera Log, please see the following link:
Safety Camera Deployment | North Yorkshire Police
I have therefore decided to exempt providing you with a separate response pursuant to Section 21 Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see the exemption explanation below.
For offences captured by Officers at the roadside, there have been 502 for the period between November 2022 to November 2023 and 631 for the period between November 2021 to November 2022 for either ‘use of phone whilst driving, or supervision of provisional licence holder’.
Exemption Explanation
Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
Section 21 – Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means
Section 21 is an absolute class based exemption and I am not required to consider the harm or public interest when applying this exemption.
Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Act this letter acts as a Refusal Notice in response to your request.
Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.