MOTORISTS are being warned that they face six points on their licence and a £200 fine if they are caught using their mobile phone at the wheel.

From today, new and tougher penalties — twice as much as before — come into force.

Previously, drivers caught faced three points and a £100 fine.

MORE TOP STORIES:

And the new legislation also means newly qualified drivers may have their licence revoked on the first offence under the New Driver Act.

Chief Inspector Andy Wilkinson of Cumbria Police said: “The reason the punishment is doubling nationwide is that everyone is now well aware of the dangers posed by drivers being distracted by their phone while driving. The consequences could be fatal.

“Mobile phone use while driving is becoming as socially unacceptable as drink-driving and can be just as dangerous.

“Our officers are on the roads and looking for drivers putting people’s lives at risk by using their phone while driving.

“But we also need to change people’s behaviour so that they would never even consider using a phone whilst behind the wheel. The public can help by having frank conversations with friends and family about the dangers and the financial and legal consequences.”

Using your mobile phone whilst driving or whilst sat in the car with your engine running has been illegal since December 2003.

Ch Insp Wilkinson said: “The changes will mean a newly qualified driver caught using their mobile phone in the first two years after passing their test will lose their licence.

“It simply isn’t worth it. If the call is important, pull over, take the key out of the ignition and find a safe place to make the call.

“There is no excuse for phone use while driving.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “I don’t think the message could be any clearer or simpler: Don’t use your mobile phone while driving.

“It is dangerous, socially unacceptable and could cost you your licence. It could also cost you much more than the £200 fine, it could cost you your life, worse still the lives of others, no phone call or text is worth the risk."

Meanhwhile, independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart said that using a hand-held mobile phone while on the move was a fatal distraction

Those surveyed last year by IAM RoadSmart are becoming increasingly concerned by the issue. In the charity’s Driving Safety Culture Survey more than 86 per cent of UK motorists thought distraction caused by mobile phones had become worse in the last three years.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, said: “Addressing the growing problem of smartphone use while driving will require a combination of enforcement and education as well as drivers, passengers, companies and individuals taking more responsibility.

“IAM RoadSmart is disappointed that the government did not support our calls for first time offenders to be sent automatically on a re-education course specifically tailored to breaking our apparent addiction to being constantly connected. We also want to see car companies, mobile phone makers and social media providers working together to develop technical solutions to hand held mobile phone use in vehicles.”

Mr Greig said: “It is essential that drivers get the clear message that if you are on the phone and have a fatal crash you can expect to go to prison for a long time. There is a lot of support among the driving public for stronger penalties and more enforcement focus on mobile phones, but also a feeling that this is not always reflected in sentencing."