Cameras to snap drivers on the phone

• Advisory council wants greater use of cameras
• Drivers using phones or not belted up targeted
• Concerns from motoring groups about proposal

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Cameras should be used to automatically fine motorists for using handheld mobile phones or for failing to belt up, under proposals to be discussed in Parliament.

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) says cameras that can read number plates and flag up suspicious vehicles to police should also be trained on drivers.

Robert Gifford of Pacts will tell the influential Transport Select Committee that cameras could be used to catch motorists flouting the ban on handheld mobile phones and check whether they've belted up. Gifford says the benefit for road safety and 'the greater good of society' offsets the 'slight reduction of our liberty'.

Motoring organisations have other concerns. Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, doubts ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras could detect what drivers are up to, and said traffic police are still desperately needed to patrol the UK's roads.

'Are we going to completely rely on Robocop instead of real traffic police on the beat?

'We have got to use technology where it's effective – cameras targeting stolen cars for instance – but what about tailgating, drivers who weave in and out, drunk drivers, drugged drivers? Yes, cameras have a role to play, but it's a limited role.'