Forty-five cameras across NSW will be introduced by the state government by the end of the year, at a cost of 88 million dollars.

The locations for cameras have yet to be finalised.

Criteria for placement will include prevalence of crashes or relevant crash types; evidence of illegal mobile phone use; advice from NSW Police; and/or locations which are difficult to enforce using existing NSW Police resources.

There will be a three month grace period for those caught. But after that period motorists will be hit with a hefty $344 fine and five demerit points.

Port Macquarie driving instructor Donna Moore described the cameras as an "excellent idea".

"There is just too many people getting injured whilst using their phone," she said.

"The common thing I see is people looking down at their lap which gives the indication that are doing something on their phone.

"A distracted driver is a dangerous driver."

Mrs Moore said it would be a misconception to say it was only young people who use their mobile phone when driving.

"I believe young people have actually got the message, although accident stats may suggest they haven't," she said.

"There are all sorts of programs targeted at young people.

"I see a lot of older people using their phones in Port Macquarie."

Mrs Moore believes the increase in "nose to tail" accidents is because of the prevalence of mobile phone usage when driving.

Another Port Macquarie driving instructor Andrew Collins agreed the cameras were a "good thing" but said in general driving in the area was deteriorating.

"To be honest the general driving attitude in Port Macquarie has dropped significantly," he said.

"It is not just phones, it is patience in general, that is a bigger issue in my opinion."

Mr Collins partly attributed the poor driving to Port Macquarie's growing population.

"People just cut us off without even giving a second thought, abuse learner drivers, that is the bigger issue to us."

NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, said more than 16, 500 people had been caught using a mobile phone while driving so far this year in the state.

Sergeant Daniel Finch from the Traffic and Highway Control Command on the Mid North Coast said he did notice an increase in "people looking down at their lap".

"People are more tech savvy and can text, email and Facebook these days on their phone," he said.

The state government has made no apologies for the hefty fines that will be issued for those that break the law.

"The decision to pick up your phone can have fatal consequences," NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul O'Toole said.

"It doesn't matter whether you are driving on a busy city motorway or on an isolated road in the bush, there is just no excuse for using your phone illegally."

Unlike speed cameras, there will be no warning signs to alert motorists of the presence of mobile phone detection cameras.

However, there will be some allowances for mobile phone use in the car.

These allowances include using a phone in a cradle with Bluetooth, handling a phone while passing it to a passenger, as well as using it in a drive-through service situation.

A recent six month pilot on the M4 and Anzac Parade in Sydney with mobile phone detection cameras checked 8.5 million vehicles and found more than 100,000 drivers using their phones illegally.