Drivers using mobile phones while driving are increasing by the day, despite the penalty of £60 they need to pay if caught. The road safety campaigners have thus demanded that the fine be increased to something like £500 or £1000, reports The Independent.

In 2006, the penalty amounted to £30. This was doubled in 2007. This did bring about a difference to the motorists. The number of drivers using mobile handset while driving reduced to 1.4% in that year. However, a reduction in the number of traffic police and also in the number of motorists getting prosecuted for using handhelds while driving, has caused people to take things for granted. A survey conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory has revealed that the percentage of drivers using handsets while driving has gone up to 2.8%. Even the number of car drivers using hands-free phones has catapulted from 1.2% in 2006 to 4.8% now.

The majority of the people found guilty are in the age group of 17-29 among women and 30-59 among men.

Experts say that when using mobile phones while driving, people are four times more vulnerable to accidents. Lawyer, Nick Freeman is of the opinion that the Government should completely ban using of mobile phones while driving.