Drivers not going hands-free
May 24, 2007 by admin
Filed under News, News-Insurance
Many British drovers continue to use their mobile phones while driving, despite recent changes to make punishments harsher.
A survey, carried out by Which?, found that 33 per cent of drivers are still making and receiving calls while behind the wheel.
In addition, 32 per cent admit to sending or reading text messages while driving, running the risk of prosecution or, even worse, having an accident.
New laws introduced in February state that drivers can be hit with a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licence if they are caught on their phone while driving.
This can have a big effect on insurance premiums for drivers and the fact that they continue to talk and drive cannot be put down to ignorance of the laws.
In a separate Which? survey, it was found that 90 per cent were aware of the penalty changes.
“Although people seem to be aware of the higher penalties for mobile phone use behind the wheel, many either don’t understand or don’t obey the revised law,” commented Richard Headland, motoring editor at Which?.
“The penalties for using a handheld phone when driving are now stiffer, but to be effective the government must change driver behaviour through better education as well as enforcement.”
The survey also highlighted that only one in ten drivers are aware that it is still legal to call the emergency services while behind the wheel.
