HAMPSHIRE police have launched a crackdown on drivers who are putting lives at risk by using their mobile phone at the wheel.

It follows the crash in which a mother and three children were killed when their car was crushed by a lorry driven by Hampshire trucker Tomasz Kroker, who had been scrolling through music selections.

Kroker, 30, of Andover, was travelling along the A34 in Berkshire in August when his vehicle smashed into stationary traffic at more than 50mph.

Tracy Houghton, 45, died instantly along with her sons Ethan, 13, and Joshua, 11, and her partner’s daughter, Aimee Goldsmith, also 11.

Jailing Kroker for ten years Judge Maura McGowan said his attention had been so poor he might as well have had his eyes closed.

This week police officers from the Hampshire and Thames Valley forces will join a crackdown on drivers using their phones.

Officers will stop drivers seen flouting the law and issue them with fixed penalty notices as well as educating motorists about the dangers of being distracted.

It follows a previous campaign in May in which 190 people were caught – a 36-per-cent rise on the previous year.

Police Sergeant Rob Heard said drivers were four times more likely to be involved in a collision if they were using a mobile phone or were otherwise distracted.

He added: “Unfortunately far too many people are still deciding to take the risk and the consequences of these actions can cause devastation, as we’ve recently seen with the case on the A34.

“The video showed the driver looking at his phone.

“Even though he looked up several times he still did not see what was happening ahead - the namely the slowing and stationary traffic.

“By the time he did realise it was too late and four innocent people lost their lives.

“The crash was completely avoidable. People need to remember that a split-second lapse in concentration can result in an accident.

“My advice is to turn your phone off while driving, put it out of reach and out of view. That way you won’t be tempted to look at it and become distracted.”

Experts say drivers are four times more likely to crash while using a mobile phone, which can slow reaction times by 50-per-cent.

Motorists handed a fixed penalty notice have to pay a £100 and also have three penalty points added to their driving licence.

Those taken to court can be disqualified from driving or fined up to £1,000. Drivers of buses or goods vehicles could receive a maximum fine of £2,500.