A SERIES of road safety measures have been unveiled in the region, with stiffer penalties for using mobile phones behind the wheel.

The Government's Road Safety Bill is aimed at tackling drink-driving and clamping down on uninsured and irresponsible driving.

It comes a year after the ban on mobile phones while driving.

More than 2,000 penalty notices have been issued by police in the North-East since legislation was introduced.

Drivers supervising learners can also be fined if they use their phone while sitting in the passenger seat, as they are still in control of the car.

Fines will now be doubled to £60 and three penalty points can be imposed.

Gill Davies, whose husband Derek was killed in an accident in County Durham when the other driver was using his mobile phone, said at the launch: "The use of mobile phones while driving is a potential hazard and shows a very selfish attitude which can result in someone's death. If someone is driving alone, for their own and other people's safety, they should pull over and stop before using their mobile phone and then only in extreme emergencies.

"The safest answer would, of course, be to switch it off at the start of their journey and only switch it back on at their destination."