Fines for motorists caught using their mobile phones are set to double to €100 as the present penalties do not appear to be enough of a deterrent.

Some 2,000 motorists are being fined every month for using their phones while driving, official figures show.

“We have just met government officials, and have been assured us the fines will be increasing very soon. It is about time too. This is a very dangerous habit that motorists are developing,” Malta Road Safety Council executive manager Pierre Vella told The Sunday Times of Malta.

An information campaign will be held in the coming weeks.

By way of comparison, driving while using a mobile phone in the UK can cost a driver up to £1,000 (€1,150).

More in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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