Tougher punishments on drivers using mobiles will be in place from next month

This is double the punishment motorists currently receive, which is three points and a £100 fine. Motorists could also go to court where they could be disqualified from driving or riding and get a maximum fine of £1,000.

Drivers of buses or goods vehicles could get a maximum fine of £2,500. The changes come after a government consultation showed that 94 per cent of the public agreed that tougher penalties were needed.

A report by the RAC published last September showed that 31 per cent of drivers admitted using a handheld mobile phone, an increase from eight per cent in 2014.

Drivers sending a text, email or posting on social media has also spiked from seven to 19 per cent in the same period. The breakdown company has called the use of handheld mobiles “the biggest road safety concern among motorists today”.

Pete Williams, RAC road safety spokesman, said: “We welcome stiffer penalties for handheld mobile phone use and believe this will send a strong message to motorists.

“However, we believe this has to be done in conjunction with a heavyweight road safety campaign so we therefore welcome initial proposals for a new THINK! initiative.

“The RAC’s Report on Motoring 2016 identified that the problem is at epidemic proportions as almost half of motorists admitted to using a handheld phone at the wheel to talk, text or use other apps in the last year.

“Increasing the fine from £100 to £200 and doubling the penalty points from three to six will help to deter people from doing it in the first place.”

He added: “It has been allowed to go on for too long and we now need to send a shockwave out there and encourage any drivers still flouting the law to go cold turkey on handheld mobile phone use.”

According to a recent survey texting at the wheel increases the chances of being involved in a crash by 23 times, while for those dialling the risk rises 12 times. The message from Gwent Police is simple, keep your eyes on the road and off your handsets.

A spokesman for Gwent police said during 2016 there was one fatal collision in the county attributed to the use of a mobile phone. This resulted in the death of the driver using the phone.

Chief Inspector Huw Jones said: “It doesn’t matter how experienced you are as a driver – anyone can be easily distracted whilst behind the wheel.

“It only takes a slight lapse of concentration to result in tragedy and mobile phones offer a distraction not only through phone calls but also the temptation to check social media, e-mails and access the internet.

“These can all wait until you are parked safely or until you’ve finished your journey altogether. The new penalties for anyone caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel will be come into effect on March 1 and drivers should be aware we are committed to tackling this offence and bringing those who ignore the law to justice.”

If tackling offenders on the road is one aspect of Gwent Police’s campaign, the other is tackling the problem at its root by targeting future drivers with school and sixth form based workshops.

A recent study showed that using a mobile phone at the wheel is the second most common cause of crashes, with loss of concentration through tiredness the biggest cause. Police believe the amount of crashes caused by mobile phone usage may be much higher than in official statistics, as only collisions which result in serious injuries are recorded.

It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone when driving or riding a motorcycle. The rules are the same if you are stopped at traffic lights or in queuing traffic.

Law states the only exception is when a driver needs to call 999 in an emergency and it is unsafe or impractical to stop.

Motorists can use mobile phones in their vehicle if safely parked and the engine is switched off. Hands free devices are allowed, but motorists can be stopped if they are not in full control of the vehicle as a result of its use.

During the All-Wales Anti-Mobile Phone While Driving Campaign from November 7 to November 20, 2016, officers detected a total of 392 motorists using their phones while driving in Wales. The campaign was led by Gwent Police and involved all four Welsh police forces and GoSafe.

Chief Insp Jones said: “Although fewer motorists were caught in this year’s campaign, it remains a serious concern that so many drivers choose to risk becoming involved in a serious or fatal collision due to using a mobile phone whilst driving.”

He added: “Taking such a risk is totally unacceptable, and this is why officers from all four Welsh forces will continue to carry out proactive patrols to target motorists who endanger themselves and other road users. No call, text, app, or email is that important – they must all wait until you’ve stopped driving.”

Officers also detected 200 other offences whilst carrying out checks, such as drink and drug driving, speed, not wearing a seat belt and carelessness during the campaign.

Across the UK, 36 forces took part in the campaign in November, stopping 10,012 vehicles and detecting nearly 8,000 mobile phone offences, the highest ever total for a week of enforcement on distraction driving.

Chairwoman of Road Safety Wales Susan Storch said: “Driving a vehicle requires us to multi-task so anything above and beyond that needs to wait until we are safely parked up or until our journey has finished.

“Campaigns such as this demonstrate the resolve of all the Road Safety Wales partners in tackling this issue and we will continue to work together to drive home the message of not using your mobile phone behind the wheel. No call or text is that important.”

Road safety groups across Gwent are backing the tougher new law. Amanda McConnell, community councillor and chairwoman of Machen Community Road Watch, said she believes the change will be a deterrent to many motorists who are tempted to use their phones while driving.

She added: “Along with drink driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and driving carelessly, using a mobile phone behind the wheel - whether it be texting, using an app, or making a phone call - is classed as one of the “fatal five”; the five most common causes of fatal road traffic collisions.

“We all have a fundamental responsibility to behave with due care and attention, drive safely and ensure that we do not put ourselves or others in danger.”

Craig Rosser, a driving instructor based in Newport, said:“As children it is built into our psychology that we answer when spoken too. “Mobile phones are becoming a big problem. However whilst driving we need 100 per cent concentration as even the slightest lapse can cause catastrophe.

“Technology is helping but technology is harming.”

Gary Rae, campaigns director for Brake, the road safety charity, said he hopes the tougher stance will send a clear message to motorists.

“The time for letting drivers off the hook with these courses is long gone,” he said.

“Mobile phone use behind the wheel is a growing menace. The new penalties need to be rigorously enforced. I hope the National Police Chiefs Council sends a clear message to all chief constables that it’s time to get tough with drivers who break the law.”

The new legislation is being backed by Wales’ road safety organisation, GoSafe, who target mobile phone, speed and seatbelt offences. A spokesman said they hope the change in legislation will further emphasise to motorists that the use of mobile phones while driving is not acceptable and “will not be tolerated.”

: “GoSafe operators target mobile phone offences as well as speed and seatbelt offences. Unfortunately we are still dealing with drivers who use their phones while driving.”“Driving is an activity that demands total concentration. The consequences of distracted driving can be life-changing. Is any text or call really that important?”He added: “GoSafe

If tackling offenders on the road is one aspect of Gwent Police’s campaign, the other is tackling the problem at its root by targeting future drivers with school and sixth form based workshops.

The message from Gwent Police is simple, keep your eyes on the road and off your handsets.

A spokesman for Gwent police said that during 2016 there was one fatal collision in the county attributed to the use of a mobile phone. This resulted in the death of the driver using the phone.

Chief Inspector Huw Jones said: “It doesn’t matter how experienced you are as a driver – anyone can be easily distracted whilst behind the wheel.

“It only takes a slight lapse of concentration to result in tragedy and mobile phones offer a distraction not only through phone calls but also the temptation to check social media, e-mails and access the internet.

“These can all wait until you are parked safely or until you’ve finished your journey altogether. The new penalties for anyone caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel will be come into effect on March 1 and drivers should be aware we are committed to tackling this offence and bringing those who ignore the law to justice.”

Chief Inspector Martyn Stone, of South Wales Police, said: “By using a device whilst you drive you increase the risk and probability of being involved in a serious or fatal collision.

“The current penalty for anyone caught using a mobile phone while driving is £100 fine and three penalty points. In more serious cases, police officers have powers to prosecute drivers for careless or dangerous driving.

“New penalties, that will be made available to police officers come the March 1, 2017 shows the importance government places on ensuring that the roads are safe for all road users.”