IT MAY be a split-second decision.

But reaching for your mobile phone under the nose of a police officer will cost you dear.

This week police patrols will be combing the streets in a bid to tackle so-called 'distracted driving'.

Since the law was changed last year, drivers caught in the act by officers will foot a £200 bill - and find themselves with six points on their licence.

New drivers who have passed their test in the last two years will have their licences taken away if they fall foul of the law.

Refusal to cough up the fine could lead to disqualification and a £1,000 fine, while the combination of mobile phone use and dangerous driving could spell a two-year jail sentence.

Superintendent Chris Moon, head of the Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said: “It’s concerning that despite our repeated messaging around road safety, there are still a number of motorists who continue to use their phone while driving.

“A serious or even fatal collision at 60-70mph could be caused by a minor lapse in concentration. Throw a mobile phone into the mix, and you reduce your level of concentration even further.”

Recent Department for Transport figures found 27% of fatal crashes nationwide were due to a "failure to look", with one in ten coming about as a result of mobile phone use among other distractions.

Supt Moon added: “The new legislation means you only need to be caught on your phone twice to receive 12 points on your licence, which can result in a driving ban.

“In simple terms, no text or call is worth paying £200 for. Nor is it worth potentially losing your life.

“Our advice is to put your phone away where it won’t distract you. And if you really do need to use your phone for anything, make sure you pull over where it is safe to do so; don’t risk your life by using it while driving.”

Sussex Police said a total of 1,077 drivers in Sussex received points and a penalty notice for using a mobile phone while driving in 2016.

The figure for 2017 is 765 at the last count, but data for this period is still to be collated.

The force is urging the public to report sightings on the Operation Crackdown website.

In 2016, lorry driver Tomasz Kroker killed a mother and three children when his vehicle ploughed into stationary traffic as he scrolled through a music playlist on his mobile.

COMMENT

Apologies for making you all feel a little old, but the British Telecoms advertising campaign that finished with the slogan “It’s good to talk” was first aired in 1995.

Yup, that’s nearly 25 years ago. Feels like only yesterday, right?

For those with a decent memory, you’ll remember (YouTube it if you can’t) the advert featured the gravelly voice of Bob Hoskins reminding you to give your old mum a call, especially at the weekend, when rates were just 10p for a three minutes’ chat.

Fast forward to 2018 and let’s face it, we hardly ever use the landline in our homes any more and calls can be made through facebook, WhatsApp and Viber free of charge.

Problem is, it seems it’s so “good to talk” or for that matter, text, email, update your social media status, or tweet, we’re doing it when we shouldn’t, while driving.

Tests prove talking on your mobile is as bad, if not worse, that getting behind the wheel of your car after having a few too many.

But what’s makes this even more galling, is there are a million and one gadgets available that cost hardly anything to make your phone hands free.

This week, Sussex Police launched a crackdown on people who drive while using their phones. Get caught, expect a £200 fine and six points slapped on your licence.

But lets throw out another scenario. You’re chatting, texting or sending a quick email, turn a corner and crash, you didn’t see that three-year-old boy running out in front of you.

He’s dead, and your life will never be the same again.

Sorry Mr Hoskins, in this day and age there are many times when it’s simply not good to talk.