Tougher penalties come into force from today for drivers using mobile phones at the wheel.

If caught, motorists can now expect to be slapped with six points on their licence as well as a £200 fine. This was previously three points and a £100 fine.

Thames Valley Police officers are staging a week-long crackdown on drivers using their mobiles at the wheel, with Hampshire Constabulary, as the new penalties come into force.

From Wednesday, March 8, drivers will also no longer be “routinely” offered an awareness course as an alternative to a fixed penalty notice, as part of a policy change across both forces.

But TVP said officers would “use their discretion” to offer the course in exceptional circumstances.

During the week-long crackdown however, anyone caught using their phones illegally will automatically receive points and a fine.

The harsher penalties were welcomed by Mark Shaw, Buckinghamshire County Council’s cabinet member for transport, who said seeing drivers using their phones at the wheel made his “blood boil”.

He said: “The fact that some drivers think it is acceptable to focus even a part of their attention on some text message, call, or – even worse – social media while they are driving, is terrifying.

“My message to drivers is: put the phone away while you are in the car.

“It is not safe – no matter how good a driver you think you are, you are 50 per cent less focused when you are on your phone.

“To think anything else is pure arrogance, and it could cost a life.”

TVP reported that between January 1 2014 and September 30 2016 there were 145 collisions across Thames Valley where the use of a mobile phone while driving may have been a “contributory factor”.

Eleven people died and 195 people were injured.

Last year, lorry driver Tomasz Kroker instantly killed four members of a family after he used his mobile phone while driving. He was sentenced to 10 years behind bars.

Supt Simon Dodds, head of the joint roads policing unit across both forces, said: “There is never an excuse for someone to be using their mobile phone while driving, and this change in legislation sends a clear message that it will not be tolerated.

“All too often, my officers are faced with the devastation caused by motorists who persist on ignoring the dangers and drive while using their handheld phone.

“Lives are tragically lost and families are destroyed by the irresponsible decision to take a call on a handheld device, send a text, or search for music while driving.

“The safest way is to put down your phone, switch it to silent and place it out of sight to ensure that you will not be tempted to pick it up.

“Using your mobile phone while driving needs to be considered to be as socially unacceptable as drink/drug-driving, because the consequences can be fatal.

“The message is simple - don't use your mobile phone while driving - it's not worth the risk.”