NSW drivers cop 47,000 mobile phone fines

NSW Police issued 46,667 infringement notices last year alone to motorists caught using a mobile device while driving.

The force revealed the figure today as it reported on its latest compliance operation this year, which netted another 831 motorists using phones over the course of a single day.

Operation Compliance 4 targeted mobile phone use as well as other non tech-related infringements.

However, two-thirds of the total fines meted out yesterday as part of the statewide police operation were for illegal mobile phone use.

"Yesterday's operation highlights that far too many motorists are continuing to distract themselves with mobile phones when they should be focusing their entire attention on the road around them," Traffic and Highway Patrol operations commander Superintendent Stuart Smith said.