Ten drivers a day caught using phone at the wheel

Police have branded those who still flout the law as 'reckless'

A total of 3480 drivers have been fined 60 and received three penalty points after being spotted by police so far this year.

The volume of offenders represents a 23 per cent increase on the same period last year, when 2840 drivers were caught using a phone on the roads. It also represents a 53 per cent increase on 2007, the first full year after tougher penalties were brought in.

Motoring groups today said that bigger fines were unlikely to reduce the problem and called for police enforcement to be stepped up further to raise the threat of being caught.

Police chiefs condemned "reckless" motorists who continue to use their phones behind the wheel and pledged to target offenders.

Peter Rodger, chief examiner at the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), said: "Using a hand-held mobile phone is as distracting as drink- driving, but there is still a subset of irresponsible drivers who think they can get away with it."

"There are reasons why the numbers may have gone up, other than more people using mobile phones while driving. Better police enforcement could be a major factor.

"We also feel that a greater expectation of getting caught will have more impact on reducing the rate of offending, rather than bringing in tougher punishments."

The force runs regular clampdowns on the use of phones, often using up to 125 officers in the road policing unit.

Both high-visibility patrols and undercover vehicles are used to catch drivers making calls.

A police spokesman said: "Reducing the number of motorists who use a mobile phone behind the wheel is a priority for the force and throughout the year road policing officers carry out various days of action to monitor the behaviour of drivers.

"Anyone found to be using a mobile phone or other distractionary device while driving will be robustly dealt with."

In March 2006, 60 on-the-spot fines and automatic three penalty points were brought in as punishments. Previously, an average of 11 drivers a day were caught in the force area when the fine was 30 and no points penalties were included.