A CAMPAIGN to crackdown on drivers using their mobile phones behind the wheel has launched today.

Hampshire police will be stopping motorists throughout Hampshire and Test Valley as part of the national chief council's campaign.

The week long scheme of enforcement and education will take place until April 21 and aims to educate drivers.

Kate Goldsmith who lost her daughter Amiee aged 11 following a road traffic collision of August 10 is supporting the campaign.

A lorry driver had been using his mobile phone to change music whilst drivin ploughed into stationary traffic crushing a number of cars and killing Aimee, her stepbrothers Josh Houghton, aged 11, Ethan Houghton, aged 13, and the brothers mum Tracey Houghton, aged 45.

Kate Goldsmith, who has been campaigning over the use of mobile phones by drivers, said: “I am supporting this campaign and welcome any technology which can assist in educating people and stop them from using their mobile phones whilst driving.

“Most mothers’ look forward to planning their daughter’s weddings. I had to plan Aimee’s funeral.

“My son Jake was travelling in the car behind the one that Aimee was travelling in, thankfully he was uninjured, but he literally saw the moment that killed his sister.

“Please take a minute to just think about that. Seeing your sister, brother, daughter, son or any person you love being killed.

“This was down to someone being distracted by their phone whilst driving a lethal weapon. My daughter’s death was completely avoidable.

“Please don’t use your mobile phone whilst driving it’s not worth the risk.”

The news of the campaign comes after Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police’s Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit announced last week that they are set to be the first unit in the country to use a new piece of technology that can detect when drivers are using their phone without a hands free device.

When a driver using their phone is detected, the device will flash a mobile symbol at the car advising them to stop using their phone.

This technology aims to help officers to detect particular hotspots needing enforcement as it can identify how many cars on a particular stretch of road are using their phones.

PC Liz Johnson, a Roads Safety Officer for the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: "In the Thames Valley since 2014 there have been 83 people killed or seriously injured as a result of drivers using their mobile phones and 40 have been killed or seriously injured Hampshire.

“It is vital that people take notice and stop using their mobile phones whilst driving.

“My advice would be to turn off your phone whilst driving, put it out of reach, out of view so that more innocent people don’t lose their lives. Remember it’s not worth the risk.”