A ban on holding a mobile phone while driving is being introduced on Britain's roads to get round a loophole in the law.
As the law stands currently, reckless drivers only face prosecution if they are caught in the act of using phones to text or call.
If someone is using their phone take a photo or scroll through their music play list, or to use it as a Sat Nav, they are exempt from prosecution.
But the major change in the law announced today (and expected to come into force by spring) means motorists can't touch their mobiles for any reason - they face six points on their licence and a fine of up to £200.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the law change will bring it into the 21st Century. "We recognise that staying in touch with the world while travelling is an essential part of modern-day life, but we are also committed to making our roads safe."
Mr Shapps said drivers who use a hand-held mobile phone are putting lives at risk by "hindering their ability to spot hazards and react in time".
Highways England is trialling roadside cameras which can automatically take pictures of drivers using their phones.
The high definition cameras will be fixed to overhead gantries and take super detailed pictures of drivers through windscreens.
The images will be sent to police and notices of intended prosecution posted to the owner of the vehicle in the same way as speeding penalties.
A similar scheme in Australia captured more than 100,000 drivers including a man holding his phone and sending a text message while a front-seat passenger held the steering wheel.
Earlier this year, Ramsey Barreto successfully appealed against a conviction for filming the scene of a crash while driving after his lawyers argued the rules only relate to using a phone for "interactive communication".
The action follows a recent report by the Commons' Transport Select Committee which urged the Government to introduce tougher restrictions on using a mobile phone while driving.
In 2018, there were 683 people injured on Britain's roads - including 29 deaths and 118 serious injuries - in crashes where a driver using a mobile was a contributory factor.
Labour MP Lilian Greenwood, who chairs the committee, described the announcement as "great news" but warned that "the risk from hands-free devices is just as real".
She added: "While we're pleased that ministers will prioritise work on hand-held mobiles, this issue still needs to be addressed."
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams warned that tightening the rules on phone use is "only as powerful as the level of enforcement".
He said: "In the absence of technology being used to catch offenders, the decline in the number of road police officers means there is a much lesser chance of being caught in person today than there was 10 years ago."
