OFFICERS dedicated to keeping Dorset roads safe have welcomed plans to double the punishment for drivers caught using a mobile phone.

Motorists caught using a handheld phone are currently given three penalty points and a minimum fine of £100, but this is set to be increased to six points and £200 under new Government plans.

The new rules could also see more experienced drivers going to court if they offend twice, and facing possible fines of up to £1,000 and at least a six-month driving ban.

The tougher sanctions would also mean young drivers losing their licence the first time they are caught using a handheld phone.

New drivers who are disqualified would then have to pay for a new provisional licence and pass the theory and practical tests again to regain their full licence.

The Department for Transport said it expected the changes to take effect in the first half of 2017.

Inspector Stuart Pitman welcomed the plans, deeming them as a “proper deterrent” for motorists using mobile phones while driving.

He said: “There will be a massive increase in motorists losing their licence especially among young drivers. However these penalties need to be backed up by education as well for them to work.

"There is clear evidence that shows a correlation between crashes and the use of mobile phones and anything that distracts a driver from the road can lead to an accident.

"Unfortunately we are fighting against society at the moment. There are some people out there who feel that they can't survive without their mobile phone - even for a car journey. This is the kind of attitude we need to stop."

Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that a driver impaired or distracted by their phone was a contributory factor in 492 accidents in Britain in 2014, including 21 that were fatal and 84 classed as serious.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling pledged to introduce tougher sanctions for illegal mobile phone use as soon as possible.

He said: "As technology develops, mobile phones are common place, but we need to take responsibility for our actions and as drink or drug driving has become socially unacceptable, so must using mobile phones at the wheel.

"It may seem harmless when you are replying to a text, answering a call or using an app, but the truth is your actions could kill and cause untold misery to others.

"We all have a part to play in ensuring our family and friends do not use their phones while driving. I will be announcing a tougher new penalty regime shortly."

The proposals go further than a Government consultation launched in December 2015 which suggested raising penalty points to just four and increasing fines to £150.