Gary Neville has been spotted using his phone behind the wheel of the £170,000 Bentley – the FOURTH time he has been caught in the act. The 50-year-old Sky Sports pundit and former footballer was filmed looking at the device as he drove away from traffic lights in Manchester, reports the Daily Star.
In a 20-second video clip recorded by a shocked bystander, the ex-Manchester United and England star was seen with one hand on the steering wheel and his phone in the other while stopped at a red light. He clearly continues to hold on to and glance at the phone as he pulls away in Irwell Street, Salford. The 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 in his 180mph 2024 Bentley Bentayga S V8 Auto V8. Neville, who won 85 caps for England, is part of the ownership group at the League Two club led by himself and former teammate and friend David Beckham.
It is illegal to use a hand-held device while driving and when stopped at traffic lights. Drivers found breaking the rule can be fined £200 and given six penalty points on their licence.
Road safety campaigners were quick to stress the dangers of using a phone behind the wheel. A spokesman for road safety charity Brake 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."
It is not the first time the former Three Lions right back, who played 400 times for the Red Devils, has been spotted allegedly using his phone in the driver’s seat. In 2009, he 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 whilst driving his £100,000 BMW i8. It is not believed Neville was prosecuted for any of the alleged offences.
In 2022, Neville – who won eight Premier League titles and the Champions League twice with United – revealed on social media that he was banned from driving after accumulating 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!"
