No seat belt? Then smile for the camera...

Lancashire Police said its mobile camera technicians are now able to spot these offences during their regular work to catch speeding motorists.

Anyone caught using a phone while driving or not wearing a seat belt will, where possible, be given the chance to attend an educational course rather than face prosecution.

Assistant Chief Constable Tim Jacques, chairman of the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety executive board, said: “Sadly we see too many drivers illegally using their mobile phones for calls or even worse texting when they are driving.

“This is threatening and costing lives. Our aim is to change the behaviour of those who illegally use a phone or don’t wear a seat belt.”

In the first half of 2015, more than 2,000 people were injured on the roads of Lancashire. Of those, 377 were seriously hurt and 22 people died.

Coun John Fillis, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “There has been an enormous growth in technologies which can provide a potential distraction to drivers, and there appears to be an increasing problem with those who think it’s acceptable to put other priorities ahead of their and other people’s safety.

“However there’s absolutely no excuse and I hope this new development in police mobile enforcement provides a deterrent to those drivers who have clearly not considered the potential consequences of taking their attention off the road.”