More than 100 drivers were pulled up for using mobile phones while driving in west London last week.

A crackdown by Hammersmith and Fulham Police and Kensington and Chelsea Police saw 101 motorists from the two boroughs prosecuted during Mobile Phone Awareness Week.

It follows a major crackdown, with tougher punishments coming into force on March 1 .

A tweet by police from Hammersmith and Fulham , posted on Monday (July 24) morning, read: “Our combined efforts with @MPSKenChel prosecuted 101 drivers using their mobile phones last week during Mobile Phone Awareness Week. #STT.”

Drivers were liable to a £100 fine and three points on their licence, but this doubled earlier in the year to £200 and six points.

More than 200 people had been killed nationwide by drivers distracted by their devices in the last 10 years.

Driver reaction times have been shown to be twice as slow as normal when driving using a mobile phone and even 30% worse than when driving under the influence of alcohol.

Speaking as the tougher punishments came into force, Chief Inspector Colin Carswell from Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC), said: “Using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving means a driver’s attention is distracted from the road and is, after speeding, probably the most dangerous thing a driver can do - leading to people being killed and injured on our roads.

Strike 1: Surrey Road Cops have already caught a man using his phone while driving

“You’re slower at recognising and reacting to hazards if you are driving and using a mobile phone.

“Making a call or sending a text is distracting and can have very serious consequences.

“The grief of a family who have lost a loved one following a traffic collision is immeasurable.

“Is a phone call or text message really that important? The only thing drivers should be concentrating on is driving.”

The AA has said it wants mobile phone use while driving to be as socially unacceptable as drink driving .

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