The Guardian has said that Mr McLoughlin is looking at plans to double the penalty points in the current sanction to six.
The move has been recommended by Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe following the first increase in deaths and injuries from dangerous driving on the Capital's streets in more than a decade.
The move would mean a driving ban for anyone who was caught twice in three years.
As reported by the Guardian, Mr McLoughlin said he was closely considering the proposal because the ‘amounts of casualties there have been are absolutely appalling’.
He told a Westminster lunch with journalists: ‘The person using their phone doesn't realise the damage or the danger they can be in. It ends up ruining different people's lives – those who are driving as well as those who are injured.
‘It is one that I want to look at. There could be some difficulties about it but I think we've got to get that message across to people about safety.
‘We have been very lucky in this country in seeing, year on year, the number of road deaths and casualties actually falling. But one death is one too many and we need to look at those and see where we are going.’
Road safety charity Brake greeted the news. Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, said: ‘This is a welcome proposal, and we hope the Government will implement it. Brake has long campaigned for tougher penalties for mobile phone use at the wheel because of the suffering we see the bereaved and injured victims of road crashes put through as the result of such a senseless and unnecessary risk. An increase in penalty points is a step in the right direction, but it could provide a more effective deterrent if combined with a increase in the fixed penalty fine to £500-1,000, as well as heightened traffic enforcement, so risky law-breaking drivers know they will not get away with it.
‘It is also vitally important the Government doesn't ignore the danger of hands-free mobiles. Research shows using a phone hands-free is about as risky as picking up the phone while driving, so this should be included within the ban, and carry the same penalty. Our message to drivers is clear: switch your phone off, put it out of sight and reach, and remove the temptation to jeopardise someone's life for the sake of a call or text.’
