POLICE forces in the region are cracking down hard on motorists who risk lives by talking on mobile phones at the wheel, new figures reveal.

A total of 8,929 drivers were handed £30 on-the-spot fines for the offence in 2006, a 35 per cent rise on the 6,616 caught by officers the previous year.

It means that about 24 motorists were fined every day somewhere in the region, as police try to make the practice as unacceptable as drink-driving.

Since 2006, the last year for which figures are available, the law has been toughened, so drivers now face a £60 fine and three points on their licence if they are caught.

Many police forces now check mobile phone records after accidents to see if the driver was making a phone call at the time and may have lost concentration as a result.

Leading the way is the North Yorkshire force, which trapped 2,414 drivers in 2006, a rise of 87.3 per cent on the 1,289 total in the previous 12 months.

North Yorkshire police recently announced a joint campaign with the fire and rescue service and car dealers, which will hand out safety information leaflets.

The smallest increase was in County Durham - 4.3 per cent, from 963 to 1,004.

A spokeswoman for the force said: "With partner agencies, we have focused on educating motorists about issues including mobile phone use and believe this is having an impact on offending."

The increase in the number of fines North Yorkshire and Northumbria (34.8 per cent) outstripped the national rise, which was 30.9 per cent.

The crackdown was welcomed by the AA. Andrew Howard, the organisation's head of road safety, said: "People are now being caught for using mobile phones and drivers need to be aware of that.

"I think drivers would be pleased to hear this - it doesn't take much to show that when you have a phone in your hand you are at much greater risk of having an accident."

Experts say talking on a phone slows down reactions so much that a driver is four times more likely to have an accident.

Liberal Democrat transport s p o k e s m a n Norman Baker said: "It is alarming that the number of drivers who are using mobiles while driving has risen, despite the obvious dangers.

"It has been banned for good reason.

Talking on a handheld mobile while driving must become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving has."