Even drivers stopped at traffic lights will receive a fixed penalty notice

From 27 February, offenders will receive a £60 fine and three penalty points instead of the current £30 fine.

Kent Police figures suggest that up to 5% of serious accidents have happened as a result of a driver using a phone.

Ch Insp John Frayne said: "Driving while using a mobile phone is dangerous and puts the driver's life and the lives of other road users at risk."

In 2006 Kent Police issued 4,680 fixed penalty notices to drivers caught using a hand-held mobile phone.

Driving ban

Four of those people were caught using a phone while supervising a learner driver.

The crackdown will include drivers caught using a phone while stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic.

The penalties are potentially heavier for those cases that reach court, with a fine of up to £1,000 for car drivers rising to £2,500 for drivers of vans, lorries, buses and coaches, and the possibility of a driving ban.