IT seems everyone is at it.

Wherever you drive - or wherever you sit in traffic - it’s never hard to spot someone with their eyes down, using their phone at the wheel.

While Essex Police reports up to 500 distracted drivers a month, the law is about to get twice as tough to force their attention back to the road.

Using hands-free devices - such as hand-free phones and sat navs - when you are driving is legal - unless the police think you are distracted.

But from next year, drivers caught using handheld mobile phones will face six points on their licence and a £200 on-the-spot fine.

The current penalty is three points and a £100 fine.

The harsher penalties mean new drivers could be forced to retake their test the first time they are caught offending.

On the front line of road safety in Essex is Adam Pipe, casualty reduction manager for Essex Police.

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He supports the hard line approach.

He said: “The public have become blasé about the whole thing but the new laws reflect the seriousness of the issue.

“It’s been shown that using a mobile phone while driving is as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than drink driving.

“In particular this year, we have seen so many collisions where distractions have been the cause.

“Take the A12 for example - how many times do you see people sitting in lane two, distracted by their phone?

“Something minor happens in front of them, causing them to go into the back of someone, which then causes something more serious.”

According to the RAC’S Annual Report On Motoring 2015, the overwhelming majority of motorists (83 per cent) said they thought it was unacceptable to take even a short phone call while driving.

But 12 per cent thought this was reasonable - a figure which had risen five per cent since 2014.

And while 73 per cent said they would not feel safe using a phone to text or check social media in traffic, 17 per cent of people surveyed said they did not think this was dangerous.

One reason at the root of it could be people’s belief they won’t get caught.

It’s a problem Essex Police are trying to solve ironically by using technology at the wheel.

Mr Pipe said: “There’s a belief that police are not interested but we are now reporting 400 to 500 people a month and the public need to believe they will be prosecuted.

“So sometimes we need to capture evidence without being there, which is where the dash cam comes in.

“While we don’t want vigilantes on the road, we are now acting on dash cam footage the people provide us with.

“We are also covert. We might be in plain cars and actually we see more offences that way.”

According to the RAC report, the public would rather see more consistent application of existing laws than higher penalties for mobile phone use.

A total of 79 per cent of people surveyed said there would be no point in increasing fines unless there is effective enforcement and 62 per cent said there are not enough police on the roads to enforce driving laws.

But along with the new “significant” penalties, Mr Pipe believes change needs to start before we even hit the road.

“We have always said, and will continue to say, the public have a massive part to play,” he said.

“Put pressure on a work colleague or relative. Challenge them.

“We have got to get into this culture but everyone seems to think the rules are for everyone else.”