Gary Neville caught using phone while driving for FOURTH time

Gary Neville has been criticised by road safety campaigners after being caught using his phone while driving. Neville was caught on camera using his phone while at traffic lights in Manchester.

The 50-year-old was at the wheel of his £170,000 Bentley Bentayga on Irwell Street, Salford, when a shocked bystander recorded him looking at his phone. The Daily Star reports that it is the fourth time the former Manchester United and England defender has been caught breaking the law in such a fashion.

In the 20-second clip, Neville is seen with one hand on the steering wheel of his 180mph car and the other on his phone. Doing so is illegal and drivers can be handed a £200 fine and six penalty points on their licence if spotted by the police.

A spokesman for Brake, the road safety charity said: "Using any phone while driving is dangerous and illegal - driving is a highly complex task requiring a person’s full attention, as any error can be catastrophic.

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"Drivers who talk on phones, both hands-free and hand-held, are four times more likely to be in a crash resulting in injuries and researchers have found a correlation between phone use and culpability in crashes."

An AA spokesman added: "We need to make mobile phone use at the wheel as socially unacceptable as drink-driving. There’s no excuse for picking up a mobile phone when driving. If drivers cannot resist the temptation to pick up their phone, then they should convert your glovebox into a phone box. Using a phone at the wheel costs lives."

Neville has previous having been caught apparently texting at the wheel when arriving at United's Carrington training ground. He was criticised in 2017 for reportedly holding a mobile phone while driving on the M60.

A year earlier, it was alleged Neville was seen using his mobile whilst driving his £100,000 BMW i8. Neville hasn't been prosecuted for any of these offences. He was approached for comment.

In 2022, Neville apologised after being caught speeding, which saw him reach 12 points on his licence. He posted on X: "Was recently caught speeding, around 35-40. For first time in 30 years I’m now over 12 points. So I am banned. Because that is the law. And when you break the law it means no excuses, no gaslighting, no lies! Speed kills and I’m so sorry!"

The ex-defender is one of the most prominent football pundits in the country, having made his name working for Sky Sports. He is a regular on co-commentary duties for the broadcaster and also appears on the Overlap podcast with Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott.

Neville is also a prolific businessman and is part of the ownership group at League Two club Salford City.

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