Drivers who use their phones behind the wheel will face 6 licence points and £200 fines in new legislation. 

The Department for Transport has announced the tougher rules will be put into force from March 25.

A loophole in the prior terminology allowed drivers to operate their phones to take a picture or video or play a game, which the new rules now ban.

It also covers scrolling through playlists in traffic, checking the time and notifications and unlocking the phone or causing the screen to illuminate.

Anyone caught using their phone whilst driving or in stationary traffic faces six points on their license and a £200 penalty, with drivers caught within two years of passing potentially having licenses revoked. 

A spokeswoman for West Mercia Police said: "Driving while distracted by a mobile phone is completely unacceptable and puts everyone on the roads at risk of serious harm.

"Everyone knows the use of handheld mobile phones whilst driving is against the law and we are very clear that when you get behind the wheel it is your responsibility to stay focused and alert. 

"This not only covers the making and receiving calls but also the use of social media, messaging and streaming. It’s concerning that we still have drivers across West Mercia who are willing to risk driving whilst distracted and it is a year-round commitment for us to challenge this behaviour”.

Ledbury Reporter: National Highways Assistant Regional Safety Co-ordinator for the Midlands, Marie Biddulph. Picture Credit: National Highways National Highways Assistant Regional Safety Co-ordinator for the Midlands, Marie Biddulph. Picture Credit: National Highways

Marie Biddulph, Assistant Regional Safety Co-ordinator for the Midlands National Highways, said: “We believe nobody should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads and our vision is that by 2040, no one will be killed or injured on our network.

"So we work hard to persuade people to think about their driving and to stamp out unsafe behaviour. 

“You are four times more likely to be in a crash if you use your mobile phone. The changes to the legislation will strengthen the rules and make them much clearer which is to be welcomed.

“But our message is simple – keep your phone in the glove box where you cannot be distracted by it at all. We want everyone to reach their destination safely.”

For more driving-related changes, read more here.