During the month-long campaign, which begins on March 1, officers throughout the county will be making an extra effort to target drivers who they see committing this offence.

A year ago the penalty for using a hand held mobile phone while driving was increased to three penalty points and a £60 charge.

Officers will issue fixed penalty notices to drivers whenever possible. Drivers of large goods vehicles or passenger-carrying vehicles seen committing the offence will also be reported to the Traffic Commissioner who has additional powers to suspend their licences.

Chi Insp Simon Kennedy, head of Derbyshire's road policing unit, said: "Although it has been illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving since 2003 an alarming number of people still do it. Last year our officers issued 1,799 tickets for this offence.

"National research has shown that reaction times for drivers using a hand-held phone were nearly 50 per cent worse than when driving under normal conditions.

"Driving whilst using a mobile phone is not acceptable."