Policing minister Brandon Lewis has said education is key in the fight to stop people using their phones behind the wheel.

He said the widely publicised case of a driver caught by police playing Pokemon Go was astounding as he backed our campaign encouraging drivers to stop using their phones behind the wheel.

In September, the EDP, launched its Hands Off campaign, naming motorists who are taken to court in Norfolk and north Suffolk for using their phones while, and highlighting what is being done to crack down on the offence.

Mr Lewis said that he welcomed anything that would reduce road accidents which take a significant part of police and fire brigade time to deal with.

'Any focus that highlights this I am in favour of,' he added.

Mr Lewis, a senior figure in the Home Office, said people should be using their own common sense around driving.

'The whole point of driving is to be in control of the car in a safe way. Anything that distracts from that, people should be wary of. 'Everybody is guilty at some stage in the past of doing things you might learn from in the future. With a car, you don't want to do that. On a bad day it can be a lethal weapon. We should be doing everything we can to keep the car safe and the other people on the road safe.'

Last week a man playing Pokemon Go while behind the wheel was one of 25 drivers caught using their phones during a police road check which lasted just an hour and a quarter.

The drivers – who will now receive three points and a £100 fine – were spotted in Norwich on Thursday morning,

Mr Lewis said: 'The idea of playing a game on your phone whilst driving is just astounding to me. The focus should be on driving. It should be on your car and keeping those around safe when you are driving.'

He said work by the Department for Transport - which could see penalties doubled to six points and a £200 fine - had been roundly and warmly welcomed

And he said penalties were kept under review.

But he emphasised the duty was on drivers to be conscious of being safe.

'It is about educating people to focus on the matter at hand, which is to drive the care safely.

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