LANCASHIRE County Council's road safety group are using the third anniversary of laws banning driving while using hand held mobile phones to remind drivers of road safety messages.

The legislation was introduced on 1 December 2003 and drivers caught driving while using their phones receive a £30 fine.

However, national research has shown an unexpected rise in the number of motorists flouting the law in the last 18 months.

The new Road Safety Act will soon bring harsher penalties for drivers caught driving whilst using their mobiles.

Offenders will face having 3 points added to their licence and a higher on-the-spot fine of £60.

Recent research by YouGov, the independent research agency, showed that half of all Lancashire motorists will not speak on their phone whilst holding it and driving, nationally only 66% of men said they would be discouraged by the increased penalties, compared to 82% of women.

Neil Cunliffe, road safety group manager, said: "Research shows you are four times more likely to have a crash when using a mobile phone whilst driving.

"Drivers who continue to ignore the law are risking their lives, their passengers' lives and the lives of other road users.

"Higher penalties will hopefully work to reduce the number of road casualties and make Lancashire a safer place to travel.

"Hands-free kits are seen as a safer way to talk whilst driving, but drivers need to remember that the person on the other end of the line can't see what is happening around you and can't react in the same way as a passenger sat with the driver.

"The only way to stay safe is to turn your phone off while driving and stop in a safe place when you have to use it."

For more information on road safety in Lancashire visit the websites below.