From March 1st this year drivers are opened to harsher penalties as police launch a campaign to discourage mobile phone use behind the wheel. Motorists found using a phone while driving will now receive six points on their license and a fine of £200, increasing from three points and £100 respectively. Those caught using their mobile phone twice or gaining twelve points on their license will face a court hearing, disqualification from driving and fines of up to £1,000. New drivers (within two years of passing their test) will see their license revoked, while bus and lorry drivers can expect immediate suspension if caught. The enforcement crackdown comes as the Government launches its new Think! campaign aimed at informing drivers of the new penalties as well as the potential dangers of using mobile phones while driving. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: 'It may seem innocent, but holding and using your phone at the wheel risks serious injury and even death to yourself and other road users. 'Doubling penalties will act as a strong deterrent to motorists tempted to pick up their phone while driving and will also mean repeat offenders could find themselves banned from our roads if they are caught twice. 'Everyone has a part to play in encouraging their family and friends not to use their phones while driving _ it is as inexcusable as drink-driving.î The campaign, which encourages drivers to put their phone away and out of reach, will be featured in print, radio and social media as well as in an impactful cinema ad developed in coordination with The AA Charity Trust. Car rental companies and driving schools are also expected to distribute stickers and other in-car merchandise to remind motorists of the simple 'put it out of reach' message. Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, roads policing lead of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said: 'These new penalties reflect the seriousness of the offence and will strengthen the deterrent against using a mobile phone at the wheel. We need people to understand that this is not a minor offence that they can get away with. "This issue has to begin with personal responsibility by drivers. We know that people are more likely to report other drivers using a phone than to view themselves as guilty of it. That has to change. "Tougher penalties are a step in the right direction, but police forces and partners are working this week to make it socially unacceptable to use a mobile phone at the wheel. It's about more than what you might have to pay as a penalty _ you could hurt or kill an innocent person on the roads by checking a text or taking a call."
