Mobile phone fines for drivers will soon increase under new government plans
Drivers breaking the law by using their mobile phones behind the wheel will soon be hit with more severe penalties if new proposals get the go ahead.
The current fine for using a phone while driving would increase from £100 to £150 and drivers would lose an additional point from their licence taking the total penalty points to four, under new government plans.
The penalty for HGV drivers would double to six points and first time offenders would also be made to attend an educational course.
The proposal are part of new wider road safety measures due to be announced this week and which will be consulted on next year.
"Using a mobile phone at the wheel is reckless and costs lives – I want to see it become a social taboo like not wearing a seatbelt," said transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin. "We will take action to tackle this persistent problem, with an emphasis on the most serious offenders."
Using a phone while behind the wheel was a factor in 21 fatal accidents and 84 serious incidents on the road last year.