Doctors push for increased fines for young drivers caught texting

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has said it wants tougher penalties for young drivers caught texting behind the wheel.

A total of 66 people have died on Australia’s roads this holiday season, prompting the AMA to weigh in on the road safety debate for the first time today.

“Driving is a responsibility, not a right. It’s important that new drivers learn good habits from the start,” AMA President Doctor Michael Gannon told 9NEWS.

The association has suggested that youths caught using phones be banned from getting behind the wheel for up to a year.

The policy idea, expected to be taken to both state and federal governments, comes too late for New South Wales mother Vicki Richardson.

Ms Richardson’s daughter, Brooke, was texting while driving when she slammed into a tree near the Victorian border in 2012.

The P-plater’s phone was the only thing that survived the accident.

“Every day I get up and I expect Brooke to walk through that door and she doesn't walk through the door,” she said.

“Every day I have to think about that and miss her.”

Watch the full news bulletin on 9Now