Risk-taking motorists have been hit with almost 113,000 fines for using a mobile phone while driving in Victoria in the past three years, clocking up more than $40 million in fines.

But senior police warn the number of fines issued is indicative of a larger, dangerous and sometimes fatal problem.

"Whilst this is significant enforcement, to me, unfortunately, I think it's a drop in the ocean of what's actually going on there. You, me and your readers, see this every single day," said Victoria's top traffic cop, Doug Fryer.

And he warned that society's "thirst for connectivity is killing people", as motorists distracted by mobile phones contributed to the road toll.