It only takes a second of distraction to kill on the roads - as the sentencing of Tomasz Kroker last month demonstrated so terribly.

Tracy Houghton, her sons Ethan, 13, and Joshua, 11, and her stepdaughter Aimee Goldsmith, also 11, would be alive today if the use of mobile phones by drivers was considered as socially unacceptable as drink driving.

READ MORE: Distressing content - Dashcam footage released of fatal crash caused by lorry driver on his phone

Instead, we see an epidemic of mobile phone use at the wheel.

So today we make no apology for publishing another gallery of shame.

An Observer photographer captured images of motorists using their phones at the wheel over the weekend.

In just three hours she captured images of five people using hand held mobile phones to either talk or text, one of whom was driving a heavy goods vehicle.

SEE OUR FIRST GALLERY HERE

Dramatic footage of Kroker's terrible accident, which took place on the A34 near Newbury, was shown across news channels as police nationwide warned drivers of the horrific consequences of using a mobile phone while driving.

The government also plans to double penalties for mobile phone use at the wheel to six points and a £200 on-the-spot fine.

A recent survey undertaken by Hertfordshire County Council revealed that a quarter of all drivers admitted to having used their mobile phone behind the wheel in the last six months.

Cabinet Member for Highways, Terry Douris, said: “Despite the overwhelming evidence that driving while using a mobile phone can be incredibly dangerous, many people continue to ignore the law.

“Over the years, we have seen drink driving become socially unacceptable – the same needs to happen now for us to put an end to the dangerous practice with mobiles.

"We would urge all drivers with mobile phones to put it away before starting their journey.”