A man whose daughter was killed by a distracted driver has supported new ACT Government plans to increase the penalty for motorists caught texting.

Canberra drivers who text or use social media while behind the wheel could face a $511 fine or lose four demerit points from Thursday.

The ACT Government said the changes would be the toughest rules of their kind in the country.

The penalty aims to target drivers using their mobile phones to send messages or access social media and the internet.

Peter Frazer's 23-year-old daughter Sarah and a tow truck driver were killed instantly by a passing truck, after Sarah's car broke down along the Hume Highway in February 2012.

That prompted Mr Frazer to launch the Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) group, of which he is now the president. He is also the founder of Yellow Ribbon National Road Safety Week.

"The NRMA actually came with a truck. 63 seconds after the truck pulled up, a driver who was distracted ran directly into them killing both," Mr Frazer said.

"At that point in time my life was changed forever. Whatever his distraction was, that caused the death."

Thirteen per cent of motorists use phones while driving

An existing penalty targeting people talking on their phones while driving will remain in place, delivering a $416 fine and three demerit points.

"Using the internet or texting is perhaps the most dangerous form of driver distraction on the roads," ACT Road Safety Minister Shane Rattenbury said.

Peter Frazer says drivers need to put their phones away so they're not distracted. ( ABC News: Jesse Dorsett )

"It puts both the driver and other people on the roads at incredible risk ... Sadly it's not uncommon to see drivers checking texts, Facebook or other social media.

"ACT Government research has found that 13 per cent of ACT drivers admit to using a handheld mobile phone while driving - with 4 per cent of those drivers stating that they do this all the time."

Mr Rattenbury said the young and novice drivers were particularly vulnerable to the effects of driver distraction.

"The four demerit points for this offence will result in the loss of licence for those provisional drivers," he said.

"Your text or Facebook message can wait until you arrive safely at your destination. So be patient, stay safe and put your phone away until you get there."

An animated education campaign video will be broadcast on Facebook during September to raise awareness of the new higher penalties.

Moment's distraction leads to lifetime of suffering

Since his daughter's death, Peter Frazer has devoted his life to improving road safety.

Drivers will face a new fine of $511 if caught texting. ( Clarissa Thorpe: ABC News )

Soon after the accident, Mr Frazer started the road safety campaign SARAH.

"It's been really tough because I didn't want to be in this space. There was no choice to be here," he said.

About 1,000 motorists have been fined so far this year under the existing penalty system.

About 20 per cent of those would have broken the new rules coming into effect in September.

"It's the issue of what's your personal road toll? Mine is one. I lost my beautiful 23-year-old daughter in a completely avoidable, completely unnecessary road crash," Mr Frazer said.

"If something beeps they've got to automatically respond to it. They can't just leave it on the seat beside them. So we're saying put it into the glove box so they can't get to it."