Britain institutes fines for mobile phone drivers.

Drivers caught using mobiles phones at the wheel will be committing a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000 under new legislation announced by the Government yesterday.

Safety campaigners welcomed the move, claiming it would help prevent thousands of accidents each year. But the ban, planned to come into force on 1 December, will not apply to hands-free phones.

Drivers using a hand-held mobile while driving will face a £30 fixed penalty or a maximum of £1,000 if convicted of the offence in court. The offence is being introduced by an addition to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and will have to be approved by Parliament. Legislation will be introduced to make the offence subject to three penalty points.