WE all see them on an almost daily basis - motorists flouting the law and using hand-held mobile phones while they drive.

It is infuriating for those with common sense to see people driving one handed and talking into their handsets at the same time.

They pose an awful risk to pedestrians and other road users as well as themselves by behaving so recklessly.

And there can be absolutely no excuse since hands-free sets are widely available and cheap to buy and fit.

Police have been quick to enforce the new law which became effective last December and have fined more than 800 motorists in Lancashire for using hand-held mobiles while driving. But since drivers have to be actually caught using a phone for police to issue a £30 fine enforcing the law is not easy.

From now until the end of the year officers will be setting up checkpoints specifically to spot offenders - and a good thing too.

After the wave of initial publicity complacency has set in and the message must be hammered home that hand-held phones should not be used even if a driver is at a standstill in a traffic jam or at lights.

It is vital that we all take heed and see sense - for safety's sake.