Ref. 29482-25The softly softly approach is over for motorists who flout the law by using their mobile phone while driving. Now fines will be issued to anyone caught.

POLICE are set to launch a blitz on motorists who drive while using mobile phones.

Although a nation-wide ban on using hand-held phones while at the wheel came into force last December, Wiltshire Constabulary maintained a softly-softly approach during the first couple of months.

But now Inspector Bob Walton of Swindon police means business and says his officers will be adopting a zero-tolerance stance with immediate effect.

Anyone caught flouting the ban faces an on-the-spot £30 fine, as well as three penalty points.

He said: "The warning is over. Up until now we have concentrated our efforts on educating drivers, although some tickets have been issued.

"Several other forces across the country have taken the same course of action.

"But that's over. The message to motorists is that we are watching you.

"We are taking this ban extremely seriously.

If we catch you using a hand-held mobile phone you can rest assure that action will be taken and you will be ticketed."

Inspector Walton's comments come in the light of a survey carried out by Green Flag motoring organisation, which show many drivers are still ignoring the ban.

It found that one in ten of Britain's 32 million motorists are still using phones at the wheel.

And alarmingly, none of the 700 quizzed said that they had been fined. Just three had been stopped by police, with two walking away with a verbal warning and one getting a caution.

Independent research shows that motorists using a phone are six times more likely to be involved in a traffic accident.

Inspector Walton urged motorists to think twice before dialling.

He said: "This ban is necessary. Our statistics clearly show that mobile phones distract drivers when they should be concentrating on the road.

"Ideally, we would like to see a complete ban on using phones, including the hands-free varieties.

"We would ask them to keep calls to a minimum."

Green Flag spokeswoman Melanie Denny said: "The survey shows that there are still a significant number of motorists prepared to risk a fine or even an accident by using a mobile phone handset when driving.

"It shows the majority of motorists are aware of the ban, and the dangers associated with mobile phone use, yet they are still prepared to take risks."

Kevin Shoesmith