WA motorists face toughest fines in Australia if caught using mobile phone

West Australian drivers caught using their mobile phones will be hit with $1000 fines, among the toughest in the country.

Drivers who risk death by checking social media, writing texts or watching videos on their phones will be slapped with a $1000 fine and lose four demerit points as of today.

Those caught making phone calls or simply touching their phones while driving face a smaller $500 fine and will lose three demerit points.

Ride share drivers who need to touch their phone as part of their job are excluded from the laws.

READ MORE: How some NSW drivers are dodging demerit penalties

The Royal Automobile Club of WA (RAC) welcomed the increase to mobile phone penalties which, alongside Queensland, are now the harshest in Australia.

A survey of over 400 RAC members found 97 per cent of WA motorists have witnessed other drivers distracted by their phones, while more than one in three admit to engaging in the behaviour themselves.

There were 31 deaths on West Australian roads because of distracted drivers, according to police.

RAC's Will Golsby said the new penalties were a step towards tackling distraction on our roads.

"It takes an average of five seconds to read a text message but just a split second for a life to be changed forever."

Eighty per cent of those surveyed by RAC said they feel uncomfortable being in a car while the driver is using their phone, with 87 per cent supporting the increase to penalties.