Tougher fines in the UK are failing to stop motorists using hand-held mobiles while driving, according to figures just published.

For the number of offenders is now higher than the year before harsher penalties were introduced

There were at least 171,000 fixed penalty notices for mobile phone offences in 2010/11, according to Freedom of Information requests made to England and Wales police forces by insurance company swiftcover.com.

With two of the 43 forces yet to respond, the 2010/11 figure was higher than the 166,800 total in 2006 – the year before the fine was doubled, with the threat of points going on licences of offending drivers.

171,000

fixed penalty notices for mobile phone offences in 2010/11

The latest total was also more than double the figure of 74,000 in 2004. Swiftcover reported that Thames Valley Police had an increase of 21 per cent in 2010/11 compared with 2009/10. Other increases included Hampshire and the Yorkshire forces.

The results also showed that 56 drivers were fined for using mobiles while supervising learners in 2010/11 in London alone.

Swiftcover said its research also revealed that five per cent of drivers admitted using social networking sites while driving within the past year, with this figure rising to 12 per cent for 18- to 34-year-olds.

Robin Reames, chief claims officer at swiftcover.com, said: “It’s clear that current measures to stop motorists using their phones while driving simply aren’t working.

“An irresponsible but substantial minority of motorists are continuing to flout laws and endanger others, all for the sake of a phone call that could be taken at another time.”

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said: “As a fireman I saw for myself the devastating consequences of road accidents. All too often these were caused by a driver being distracted at the wheel.”