The overall number of drivers caught using their mobile phones behind the wheel in Scotland has dropped in the last year, with drivers in Aberdeenshire and Moray receiving the fewest fines.
However, certain parts of Scotland saw an increase in the number of drivers fined for chatting on their phones by the police.
More drivers across the Highlands and Islands were caught on their phones than in the previous year, and Aberdeen City saw the most significant increase of an extra 300 drivers being caught phone-handed.
A total of 28,121 drivers were caught in Scotland using a mobile or personal handheld device between September 2013 and September 2014, down from the 33,175 caught between September 2012 and 2013.
Peter Argyle, the chairman of infrastructure services committee at Aberdeenshire Council, said: “I’m pleased to see that Aberdeenshire is leading the way as always.
“The message is slowly getting through that driving while using a mobile phone is just not acceptable.”
Councillor Angela MacLean, chairwoman of Highland Council’s community safety committee, said “It’s a bit of a let down that there’s more people being caught in the Highlands than the national average.
“I suppose it’s like driving without a seatbelt, it used to be the norm and it took so long for people to realise how dangerous and illegal it is.
“I know that the police in the Highlands have made it clear that people need to take it seriously, because a car can be a lethal weapon if not driven responsibly.”
Neil Cooney, chairman of housing, communities and infrastructure for Aberdeen City Council, said: “I’m not surprised that Aberdeen City saw the biggest increase, you can ask anybody and they’ll tell you how often you see people on their phones driving around our city.
“It’s completely senseless, thoughtless, and downright dangerous.
“It’s a public safety issue that I believe we could solve if we could concentrate on raising awareness for a week and really blitz it.”
Michael McDonnel, the director of Road Safety Scotland, was optimistic about the results: “I think it’s welcome news that the police are catching fewer people, but what we want to see is fewer people doing it full stop.
“Even if you’re using a hands-free device, by speaking on the phone your attention is divided between the act of driving and what you’re talking about on your mobile.”
