WHEREVER you drive - or wherever you sit in traffic - it’s never hard to spot someone with their eyes down, using their phone at the wheel.

While Essex Police reports up to 500 distracted drivers a month, the law is about to get twice as tough to force their attention back to the road.Using devices - such as hand-free phones and sat navs - when you are driving is legal - unless the police think you are distracted.

But from next year, drivers caught using handheld mobile phones will face six points on their licence and a £200 on-the-spot fine. The current penalty is three points and a £100 fine.The harsher penalties mean new drivers could be forced to retake their test the first time they are caught offending.

On the frontline of road safety in Essex is Adam Pipe, casualty reduction manager for Essex Police.

He supports the hard line approach.

He said: “The public have become blasé about the whole thing but the new laws reflect the seriousness of the issue.It’s been shown that using a mobile phone while driving is as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than drink-driving.

“In particular this year, we have seen so many collisions where distractions have been the cause.

“Take the A12 for example - how many times do you see people sitting in lane two, distracted by their phone? Something minor happens in front of them, causing them to go into the back of someone, which then causes something more serious.”

According to the RAC’S Annual Report On Motoring 2015, the overwhelming majority of motorists (83 per cent) said they thought it was unacceptable to take even a short phone call while driving.

But 12 per cent thought it was reasonable. And while 73 per cent said they would not feel safe using a phone to text or check social media in traffic, 17 per cent of people surveyed said they did not think this was dangerous.