Drivers still using mobiles at the wheel despite tougher fines, say RAC
Motorists are still using phones behind the wheel and are “returning to their old ways” despite tougher penalties, research says.
The RAC has said drivers did change their behaviour after the punishment for illegal mobile use was doubled in 2017, but the latest figures reveal the habit has returned.
RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said “illegal use is now rocketing among some groups of drivers” and warned the tougher penalties are less of a deterrent than they were.
The RAC Report on Motoring survey, which questioned 1,800 drivers, showed that 47% of drivers aged 25-84 make or receive phone calls with a handheld phone while they are behind the wheel.
This is a seven percent increase on the year before.
Almost a third, 29%, of motorists aged 35-44 admit to using a phone to send texts, post on social media or check emails while they are driving, which is an increase of 10 % on the year before.
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Since March 2017, drivers caught using their handheld phone have faced getting six points on their licence and a £200 fine.
Mr Williams said: “While the introduction of tougher penalties for handheld phone use at the wheel was absolutely the right thing to do, we fear any benefits have run their course with this data showing illegal use is now rocketing among some groups of drivers.
“Following the introduction of stronger penalties in 2017, we saw a promising shift with some drivers changing their behaviour for the better and becoming compliant with the law.
“Sadly, that didn’t signal the start of a longer-term trend with drivers now seemingly returning to their old ways and putting themselves and millions of other road users at risk.”
“There is still a huge job to do in communicating to drivers the dangers of continuing to mix driving with illegally using a mobile phone.”
According to the Department for Transport figures, 43 people were killed and 135 were seriously injured on Britain’s roads in 2017 in accidents where mobiles contributed.
Inspector Frazer Davey, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “The results of the survey are concerning. We know that driver distraction is a cause of collisions.
“As a road policing inspector I see the impact of driver distraction and people are losing their lives as a result of the use of mobile devices by drivers.
“The law is clear on the use of mobile devices in vehicles and police officers across the country will continue to prosecute drivers who choose to drive while distracted on their phones.”
