In the most serious cases, British motorists caught talking on a hand-held mobile phone or sending a text while driving could be charged with dangerous driving, which carries a two-year maximum sentence and an unlimited fine. Currently, motorists face an automatic fine and three points on their license under the lesser charge of careless driving. Using a hand-held mobile while driving was banned in 2003, but thousands of drivers flout the law each day – motoring groups believe this is because the police have failed to charge enough people. The ban does not cover hands-free phones, but drivers who use them can still be charged if police think they"re not in control of their car. Drivers are four times more likely to crash if they are holding a mobile or sending a text while at the wheel, the Department for Transport says.