WA’s former top cop has urged the State Government to dramatically increase penalties for using a mobile phone while driving to more accurately reflect the deadly threat that distracted drivers pose.

Former police commissioner Karl O’Callaghan said current penalties were having little impact on driver behaviour and he believed motorists should instead be hit with a more serious offence such as dangerous driving which carried a fine of up to $3000 and six demerit points for first offenders.

Second offenders would face an automatic 12-month licence ban and the possibility of up to nine months in prison and a $6000 fine.

The current penalty is a $400 fine and three demerits, regardless of how many times a driver is caught.

“If you text with a mobile phone while you are driving, it is dangerous and I think we are long past debating that point now,” Mr O’Callaghan said. “You could kill someone ... so it should attract the same penalty and the same demerit points as a dangerous driving charge.

“If you lose six points on a double demerit weekend, you would automatically lose your licence. I think people would pay attention to that.”

The horrific case of a texting driver who crashed into two police officers at a booze bus in Sydney this month has again brought the issue of phone use in cars into sharp focus.

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It prompted the NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller to demand an urgent rethink of penalties. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has agreed to consider it.

More than 17,000 WA motorists were caught using their phone while driving last financial year, up almost 20 per cent on the previous year.

The Australian Medical Association supports a rethink, particularly for novice drivers. It wants learner and P-plate drivers to lose their licence automatically if caught using their phone.

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AMA national president Michael Gannon said he would also support a ban for adults if there was evidence that it would make a difference.

“Something has to change and if this was a viral or bacterial infection there would be yells for new vaccinations or antibiotics,” Dr Gannon said last month.

The RAC also wants penalties to be reviewed. “The approach to enforcement and the severity of penalties should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are an effective deterrent,” general manager corporate affairs Will Golsby said. “The current deterrents are not working.”

Shadow police minister Peter Katsambanis said it was clear from his own experience on WA roads that penalties offered little deterrence.

“Licence suspension may be one option, higher fines in some circumstances and perhaps for repeat offenders we need to look at the possibility of a jail term,” he said.

But Police and Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts showed no appetite for change when contacted by The West Australian last week.

“We will watch with interest what other initiatives are taken up in other States and seek advice from the Road Safety Commission and WA Police as to any initiatives they may wish to progress,” she said.

Acting Road Safety Commissioner Iain Cameron agreed that distracted drivers were a growing problem but stopped short of calling for tougher penalties.

“Through continued education ... we aim to get the message through that you’re not only putting your own life at risk, but also the lives of other road users,” he said.