Under the new legislation, simply touching your phone to answer a call is illegal.

Leading Senior Constable Heather Allen of the Knox traffic management unit said phones would need to be in an approved reciprocal or cradle.

"The only way around it would be a bluetooth or some capability built into the vehicle that allows you to answer it. Otherwise, don't touch it."

Even before the stricter new legislation comes in on November 9, using mobile phones while driving has been illegal.

However, Leading Senior Constable Allen said there were still many drivers who didn't abide by the law.

As part of Operation Spot, police have been cracking down on offences such as mobile phone use and drivers not wearing seatbelts.

"The best way to target it is at intersections. A lot of people think it's okay [to use the phone] when they stop. That's not the case. Even when they're driving, they're using them as well."

Leading Senior Constable Allen said plain-clothes police might observe an offence at traffic lights, with uniformed police flagging down the offender up the road.

"People's attention is distracted elsewhere, when they should be concentrating on the road. This is a major problem and everyone keeps doing it. You can't talk on your phone while you're driving."

She said drivers phoning people or looking at a text message did not have full concentration.