Drivers defy mobiles ban as nearly half of all drivers still talk on the phone

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Drivers defy mobiles ban as nearly half of all drivers still talk on the phone

March 29th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Overall, men were more likely to to use phones while driving than women

By
Ray Massey

PUBLISHED:

18:45 EST, 28 March 2012

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UPDATED:

19:17 EST, 28 March 2012

Nearly half of all drivers still talk on the phone while at the wheel – despite the known dangers and threat of even higher fines and penalty points, a new survey reveals today.

And of the 48per cent who phone and drive at the same time, two in three illegally use hand-held mobiles, concluded the poll by road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line.

As many as a quarter (25 per cent) phone and drive at least once a week, with more than four out of ten (44 per cent) of young motorists and more than a quarter of older ones admitting to texting while driving.

Worrying: Nearly half of all drivers still talk on the phone while at the wheel - despite the known dangers and threat of even higher fines and penalty points, a new survey reveals today

Worrying: Nearly half of all drivers still talk on the phone while at the wheel – despite the known dangers and threat of even higher fines and penalty points, a new survey reveals today

Also four out of ten of young drivers owned up to using hand-held phones compared with 30per cent of older drivers.

Overall, men (50 per cent) were more likely to to use phones while driving than women (47 per cent).

More than one in five of young drivers email, go online or use apps while at the wheel, compared with under one in ten of older drivers.

Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend said: ‘Use a phone while driving and you are taking a horrendous risk with your own life and the lives of others.

Dangerous: As many as a quarter (25per cent) phone and drive at least once a week, with more than four out of ten (44per cent) of young motorists and more than a quarter (27per cent) of older ones admitting to texting while driving

Dangerous: As many as a quarter phone and drive at least once a week, with more than four out of ten of young motorists and more than a quarter of older ones admitting to texting while driving

‘Many drivers who wouldn’t dream of drink-driving are using phones while driving, oblivious that the effect on your reaction times can be similar.

‘We’re urging people to drive smart, recognising that phone use at the wheel can and does destroy lives and that no call or text is ever that important.

‘If you need to use your phone urgently, pull over somewhere safe first – it’s as simple as that.’

She added: ‘We are also calling on the Government to do more to tackle phone use at the wheel, including banning hands-free phones and bringing in far stiffer penalties.’

Research suggests it is not the act of holding the phone which causes the distraction - but the ¿tunnel effect¿ of concentrating on holding a conversation on the phone which is the danger

Research suggests it is not the act of holding the phone which causes the distraction – but the ‘tunnel effect’ of concentrating on holding a conversation on the phone which is the danger

A total of 841 people were surveyed.

Drivers caught using a hand-held phone at the wheel to call or text currently face a fixed penalty notice of £60 and three points on their driving licence.

In May 2011 the government announced this fine is will increase to a between £80 and £100.

In some cases drivers may go to court and face disqualification and a maximum fine of £1,000.

A driver who, while distracted using a phone, kills someone, faces up to 14 years in prison.

Research suggests it is not the act of holding the phone which causes the distraction – but the ‘tunnel effect’ of concentrating on holding a conversation on the phone which is the danger.

However, for practical reasons, ministers decided that it was a far more clear cut issue to prove use of a phone if it were held, than if a conversation were taking place.

So for that reason hands-free calls remain legal, though experts would suggest only marginally less dangerous.

They add there is a ‘clear and significant difference ‘ in safety terms between speaking on a phone at the wheel and chatting to a passenger.

Drivers on phones have slower reaction times and worse speed control, while those speaking to passengers perform nearly as safely as drivers with silent passengers.