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It was in December 2003 that the Government made it an offence to use a hand-held mobile while at the wheel.

New figures reveal Midland police forces issued 16,580 fixed penalty notices to motorists flouting the law up to September last year – taking in a whopping £500,000 of fines. The worst drivers in the region were in West Merica, which recorded the greatest number of fines relative to their population.

Its officers issued 6.82 fixed penalties for every 1000 people in the police force area, which covers Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

That compares with 4.30 for West Midlands and 2.45 in Warwickshire.

The safest drivers were found in Staffordshire, where just 2.17 motorists were caught chatting on their phones by cops.

A recent survey of drivers showed more than half still admitted flouting the legislation. Men aged 26-35 were thought to be the biggest offenders.

Our new figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, indicate that motorists are taking the new legislation even less seriously.

Nearly 9,000 fixed penalty notices were awarded by Midland police forces from April 2004 to April 2005 – around 750 per month.

But from last April to September last year the figure had already reached 6400 – up to 1600 per month.

“Drivers are becoming complacent,” warned a West Merica Police spokesperson.

“But he public should be alerted to the tragedies that regularly occur when people do not concentrate at the wheel, whether through using a mobile phone or another offence.”

A West Merica Police spokesman pledged to continue taking a hard line on offenders.

“Driving with a mobile phone can cause accidents and serious injuries,” warned a spokesperson from West Midlands police,” he said.

“Our priority is to cut serious injuries and road traffic collisions.”

Police forces across the country are now lobbying the Government to introduce stiffer penalties for the offence.

Under the Road Safety Bill currently before parliament, drivers could be hit with a £60 fine – and have three penalty points on their licence.
 

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