70% surge in penalty points for mobile use

THERE has been a 70% increase in the number of people who have received penalty points for holding mobile phones while driving.

The number of penalty points issued for the offence increased from 44,624 to 75,040 in the 12 months to July.

The penalty point offence has now overtaken seatbelt offences to become the second highest after speeding, out of a total of 41 penalty point offences.