Up to 10 Million Still Using Phones At Wheel

Millions of motorists are still putting their lives and others in jeopardy by using mobiles at the wheel, says a motor insurance survey.

Government figures have put the number of drivers breaking the law by chatting on their mobiles while driving at just 1.5 per cent since the law was changed to illegalise it. But the results of the motor insurance survey of 1,000 drivers suggest that the true figure may be as much as 22 times higher than this.

Overall around a quarter said that they still take "quick calls" while driving, while almost ten per cent said that they are on their mobiles all the time. Less that 9 per cent who felt contrite promised to stop. Almost 60 per cent told motor insurance researchers that they had got the message and never use their phones at the wheel.

This still leaves up to an estimated ten million still breaking the law however, with tests showing that they are four times as likely to have an accident.

"Our survey proves hand-held mobile phone use at the wheel is a far more widespread problem than the DfT thinks," said a motor insurance spokesman.

"'It doesn't matter if you're only making a quick call - hand-held phones are dangerously distracting."

"We'd like to see a hands-free kit provided with every new phone sold by law, and more traffic police on the roads to enforce mobile phone laws, which will eventually put penalty points on licences."

Be Wiser is a quality provider of Motor Insurance.