ALMOST 700 drivers in Surrey have been caught using their mobile phones and handed fixed penalty notices, under tougher laws introduced earlier this year six months after the death of a cyclist on the A31.

In March, the punishment for driving while on the phone was doubled so that, as well as getting a £200 fine if caught using a phone behind the wheel, drivers will also be handed six points – enough for people who have had their licence less than two years to have it revoked.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal a total of 693 drivers received six penalty points for using a mobile phone in Surrey between March 1, when the tougher laws were introduced, and October 5.

It comes after a parallel investigation by BBC Radio 5 Live found 290 new drivers nation-wide were disqualified in the first six months since the change.

If this happens, new drivers will have to apply and pay for a new provisional licence, and pass both the theory and practical parts of the driving test all over again.

Responding, RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “These people have spent hours and hours and hundreds of pounds learning to drive to gain their personal freedom only to throw it all away through this foolish behaviour.

“The only consolation is that they now won’t be involved in some horrific crash caused by the distraction of a hand-held mobile phone.”

When the new penalties were introduced, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said they would “act as a strong deterrent” to mobile phone users.

However, figures released by the DVLA suggest a total of 15,752 drivers received six penalty points for using a mobile phone between March and August - an increase from 15,237 drivers in the same period in 2016.

Alton van driver Christopher Gard was jailed for nine years last year following a collision on the A31 at Bentley last August which resulted in the death of cyclist Lee Martin.

Gard, 30, was using his mobile phone when he ran into the back of Mr Martin. The father-of-two died in hospital.