WORCESTER drivers continued to flout the law by using mobile phones behind the wheel - on the day tougher penalties came into force nationwide.

Despite widespread publicity about the new penalties, in only two hours - from 1pm to 3pm - our reporter spotted nine drivers using a mobile in one city spot.

The figure could have been far higher if the survey had been carried out at rush hour. The majority of offenders - six out of the nine - were men from a cross-section of age groups as drivers ignored the tougher penalties.

They include a £60 fine and three penalty points for anyone caught using a mobile phone while driving.

Drivers can be fined up to a maximum of £1,000 if the case goes to court and van, lorry, bus and coach drivers could face a £2,500 fine.

West Mercia police could not release their own figures for drivers caught yesterday.

A spokesman said in the last two weeks police stopped 43 people in south Worcestershire, a fall from 68 drivers caught the fortnight before.

In response to our survey he said: "I can't say that we're overly surprised that there are still some people who think the law doesn't apply to them. Those nine people are endangering lives by doing what they're doing. We can't understand why they would want to do that."

Drivers who get six points within two years of passing their test will lose their licence under the New Drivers Act.

Motorists can also be prosecuted for using a hands-free mobile phone if they are not in proper control of their car.

Penalties for driving carelessly or dangerously when using any mobile phone include disqualification from driving, a heavy fine and jail.

In 2006, 2,400 motorists in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin were caught using a hand-held mobile phone or did not have proper control of their vehicle - an average of 200 people a month.

Research has shown that if a person is using their mobile while driving they are four times more likely to have a crash.

Reaction time is 30 per cent worse than driving while drunk and nearly 50 per cent worse than when driving under normal conditions.

Sgt John Roberts, the force's casualty reduction manager, said: "While carrying a mobile phone in a car in case of an emergency is beneficial and reassuring, using it to chat to friends, family, work colleagues and clients while driving is as dangerous as drink-driving.

"Drivers are putting their own lives at risk as well as risking the lives of other people on the road."

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