MOTORISTS have called for a sustained campaign against using mobile phones behind the wheel to prevent more tragedy on the roads.

Photographs taken by the Oxford Mail yesterday morning showed a number of drivers on their phones in Botley Road just two days after the shocking footage emerged of Tomasz Kroker changing music on his phone moments before killing four people on the A34.

His actions took the lives of Tracy Houghton, her two sons Josh and Ethan, and her stepdaughters Aimee Goldsmith near East Ilsley in August.

Drivers parking in the city yesterday called for the issue to be taken as seriously as previous campaigns to encourage people to wear seatbelts and not to drink and drive.

But others feared we have become so attached to our mobile phones, little could be done to solve the problem.

Linda Williams, from Wantage, who says she actively avoids the A34, called for a prolonged media campaign.

The 73-year-old said: “At first with seatbelts, nobody wore them and people thought they could get away with it but now everyone does.

“But that took a long campaign and long time to come into effect - it was the same with drink driving.

“It’s the attitude that needs to change, my grandson said he saw a lorry driver on his phone at traffic lights and he pointed at it and the driver put his phone down.

She added: “We need people to almost shame others into not doing it.”

Nick Hatcher, who had parked in Seacourt Park and Ride yesterday, said the shocking footage would deter people.

The 62-year-old, from Swindon, said: “What happened was horrendous and I think people have been shocked by it.

“The attention this has had in the media will help and encourage people to leave their phones alone.

But his wife Michelle said: “It needs to stay in people’s minds, the media attention has been great but soon it will be old news and people will forget about it.

“I fear people will only change their habits once something happens to them which could be too late.”

Brian Stephens, who drove to Oxford for the day from South Wales, also feared there was nothing that could be done to stop the problem.

The 60-year-old said: “It’s something that every single one of us has done.

“People live on their mobile phones these days and when it rings - even if they don’t answer it - people lose focus momentarily wondering who could be wanting to speak to them.

“I worry there is nothing that can be done but people need to be dissuaded from using their phones while driving.”

Tomasz Kroker was sentenced to ten years in prison on Monday at Reading Crown Court.

Road Safety charities have subsequently called for tougher penalties and better police enforcement.