Mobile phone driving figures "worrying"

Findings showing the number of motorists potentially risking more than a car insurance claim by using mobile phones at the wheel have been described as "worrying".

Figures compiled by the government have highlighted that the number of car drivers using handheld phones while behind the wheel have risen from 1.1 per cent to 1.4 per cent between September 2008 and last November.

Van insurance policyholders may have been among the other vehicle drivers whose mobile phone-using numbers rose from 2.2 per cent to 2.6 per cent.

Director of the RAC Foundation Professor Stephen Glaister commented: "This is very worrying. We know that drivers' reaction times slow by almost half when they are having a chat on their mobiles."

He added that texting while driving has been shown to increase reaction times by a third.

Using handheld a mobile phone behind the wheel was made illegal in December 2003 and carries a fixed penalty of three points and a fine of £60 for motorists caught committing the offence.

But the crime can also have more tragic consequences with regard to accidents and the impact on other road users.

Mr Glaister suggested it is a stubborn minority of drivers who continue to flout the law in this way, with such motorists contributing to 16 fatal road accidents in 2008 and more in which injuries were caused.

"Police must be given the resources to tackle this menace and drivers persuaded that what they are doing is potentially lethal," he urged.

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