The former England defender has been caught on camera appearing to use his phone as he drives away from traffic lights
Gary Neville appears to be using his phone while driving
Gary Neville was filmed seemingly using his phone while behind the wheel of his £170,000 Bentley. The current Sky Sports pundit appeared to be looking at his phone as he drove away from traffic lights in Manchester.
It is the fourth time the former United defender is reported to have been caught using his mobile phone while behind the wheel, with the 20-second clip – recorded by a member of the public – showing him stopped at a red light with one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding his phone.
Neville then appears to continue to hold the device and glance at it as he drives off on Irwell Street in Salford, Greater Manchester.
It is illegal to use a hand-held device while driving and when stopped at traffic lights, with drivers facing a £200 fine and six points on their licence should they be caught.
Road safety campaigners were quick to reiterate the dangers of using a phone behind the wheel, the Daily Star reports.
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.
“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.”
In 2009 Neville was snapped seemingly texting while arriving at Man Utd’s training ground.
In 2017, he was criticised for reportedly holding a mobile phone while driving on the M60. Pete Williams, of the RAC, said at the time: “It is made all the more disappointing as he is someone who is seen both as a role model and a national hero.”
He said society “needs to talk about how dangerous it is using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel. We’ve seen far too many tragic examples of what can happen and how lives can be devastated.”
A year earlier, it was alleged Neville was seen using his mobile while driving his £100,000 BMW i8. It is not believed Neville was prosecuted for any of the alleged offences.
In 2022 Neville revealed on social media that he was banned from driving after accumulating 12 points on his licence. He tweeted: “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 new footage was captured on August 29 but has only just come to light. He was on his way to the Salford City FC vs Cheltenham Town match.
Neville, is part of the ownership group at the League Two club led by himself and former teammate and friend David Beckham. The retired footballer was capped 85 times for England and is a former coach of the national team.
He is one of the game’s most decorated footballers, winning eight Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues. Neville has been approached for comment.