Drivers STILL using mobiles on the move
Tuesday 03 November 2009 | By Shane SelbyBack to Newsroom
Drivers continue the blatant use of hand-held mobiles while driving. Despite the deterrent of a jail sentence, up to 100,000 drivers are using a hand-held phone while driving at any one time, says the AA.
The outlawed practice of talking on a hand-held mobile phone – or texting behind the wheel – has become widespread, even though drivers know they face losing their freedom after a serious accident.
In February 2007, introducing three penalty points for the offence cut usage from 1.7 per 100 in September 2006 to 1.0 per 100 through most of 2007. However, by September 2008, using a hand-held phone while driving had crept up again to 1.1 per 100.
Andrew Howard, the AA's head of road safety said: "It is clear that the message on the danger of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving and the possibility of being imprisoned is understood loud and clear". Despite this, many drivers seem determined to continue. - 55% of drivers who took part in the survey said they would be tempted to answer their hand-held phone if it went off while driving; 38% won't turn their phones off while driving.
Drivers are not the only people who could be facing fines, though. Under the recent Health and Safety Offences Act 2008, business owners can be fined up to £20,000 for allowing van drivers to use hand-held mobiles while driving their vans.
