DRIVERS who use hand-held mobile phones while at the wheel have been warned that tougher penalties are around the corner, on the third anniversary of the offence becoming law.

The new Road Safety Act means offenders will face having three points put on their licence, and a higher on-the-spot fine of £60.

The move comes after legislation, first introduced on December 1, 2003, saw offending motorists hit with a £30 fine.

However, road safety bosses say national research has shown an unexpected rise in the number of motorists flouting the law in the last 18 months.

Recent research by YouGov, the independent research agency, showed that half of all Lancashire motorists will speak on their phone while driving.

Nationally, only 66per cent of men said they would be discouraged by the increased penalties, compared to 82per cent of women.

Neil Cunliffe, road safety group manager for Lancashire County Council's Road Safety Group, said: "Research shows you are four times more likely to have a crash when using a mobile phone while driving.

"Drivers who continue to ignore the law are risking their lives, their passengers' lives, and the lives of other road users.

"Higher penalties will hopefully work to reduce the number of road casualties, and make Lancashire a safer place to travel.

"Hands-free kits are seen as a safer way to talk whilst driving, but drivers need to remember that the person on the other end of the line can't see what is happening around you and can't react in the same way as a passenger sat with the driver.

"The only way to stay safe is to turn your phone off while driving, and stop in a safe place when you have to use it."

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