FOI 287-2025 / Mar 2025 / Mobile phones
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 287-2025
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 5th March 2025 as follows:
I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would like to request data regarding the enforcement and statistics of mobile phone usage while driving and seatbelt compliance in vehicles within your jurisdiction. Specifically, I would like to request the following information:
- Mobile Phone Usage While Driving:
The number of reported offences for drivers using a mobile phone while driving from January 2022 to February 2025. Including if possible:
- Age of offender (e.g., under 18, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+)
- Gender of offender
- A brief description of what took place (if possible).
- Vehicle being driven
- Actions taken (Fines, penalties, warnings, arrests)
- Injury/Deaths (of offender/victim)
- Damage to vehicles
- Seatbelt Compliance:
The number of reported offences for failure to wear a seatbelt from January 2022 to January 2025. Including if possible:
- Age of offender (e.g., under 18, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+)
- Gender of offender
- A brief description of what took place (if possible).
- Vehicle being driven
- Actions taken (Fines, penalties, warnings, arrests)
- Injury/Deaths (of offender/victim)
- Damage to vehicles
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: Please be advised that not all of the requested information is not held in a readily retrievable format. In order to determine damage to vehicles, actions taken and a description of what took place, it would be necessary to review the circumstances of each and every offence. Such searches would exceed the amount to which we are legally required to respond, i.e., the cost of locating and retrieving the information exceeds the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004. For Police forces in the UK, the ‘appropriate limit’ is up to 18 hours of work on one request.
In accordance with Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this letter acts as a Refusal Notice for this request.
In accordance with Section 16 of the Act, I have a duty to provide advice and assistance in relation to refining your request where possible. I can advise that it may be possible to conduct searches for the following, where information is held:
- Mobile Phone Usage While Driving:
The number of reported offences for drivers using a mobile phone while driving from January 2022 to February 2025. Including if possible:
- Age of offender (e.g., under 18, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+)
- Gender of offender
- Make and model of vehicle being driven
- Disposal type (fine etc)
- Seatbelt Compliance:
The number of reported offences for failure to wear a seatbelt from January 2022 to January 2025. Including if possible:
- Age of offender (e.g., under 18, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+)
- Gender of offender
- Make and model of vehicle being driven
- Disposal type (fine etc)
With regard to Injury/Deaths (of offender/victim), this information is not routinely held in relation to these offences and would only be recorded where an officer attends the scene of an RTC and notes ‘driving whilst using a mobile phone’ was a contributory factor.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB