An alarming number of drivers are using a mobile phone while behind the wheel each day in London.

More than 28 motorists a day were caught on the phone while driving in the capital, according to the latest Home Office data.

There were 857 fines issued by the Metropolitan Police for the use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving in 2016/17 - equivalent to 2.3 fines a day.

The figures include all fines issued, such as those still subject to court action, those cancelled and others already paid.

In comparison with the previous year (2015/16), this was the second biggest increase in fines.

In 2015, 633 fines were issued with 1.7 drivers fines every day.

Across England and Wales, 31,900 fines were issued to drivers using a mobile phone while driving in 2016/17.

At least 87 motorists were caught using hand-held mobile phones every day.

In 2015/16, there were 38,332 fines issued.

Man using his phone while driving

The Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of fines, 10,315 and also the second biggest decrease across England and Wales (after Nottinghamshire) compared with the previous year, when there were 12,148 fines issued.

The biggest increase was recorded in Norfolk where the number of fines doubled in one year from 739 in 2015/16 to 1,478 in 2016/17.

Stricter rules introduced on March 1 saw penalties for using a hand-held mobile while driving doubled.

This means a driver can now be fined £200 fine and get six penalty points if caught speaking on the phone while driving.

The new laws means drivers caught using phones twice face a lengthy ban, and a £1,000 fine.

A driver who has passed their test in the last two years would face losing their licence if caught just once.

However there are some exceptions to the rule, for instance if a driver uses a hands-free kit such as a bluetooth headset or if their phone is in use while safely parked.

Other cases in which a motorist can use their mobile phone inside a vehicle is to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it is unsafe and impractical to stop.

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