Safety dictates ‘nil by hand’ but drivers inconsistent in their adherence to mobile phone legislation
A shocking 61% of motorists still have not got the message that texting at the wheel of a stationary car with the engine on is against the law despite the fact it has been illegal since 2003 for drivers to use a hand-held mobile phone.
RAC research* shows a frightening level of ignorance about the law relating to the use of hand-held phones with 12% not knowing texting and driving is illegal and 21% not realising it is illegal to check Facebook and Twitter while driving. In fact, there is greater awareness about the illegality of the new offences of tailgating or middle lane hogging on the motorway than texting whilst stopped in traffic, with a nevertheless disturbing 31% and 42% respectively, not knowing they have been outlawed.
With this level of apparent ignorance about the law, it is perhaps slightly less surprising that more than half of motorists (53%) report regularly seeing other people texting in stationary traffic during half or some of their journeys, while 29% claim to see this during most journeys.
In terms of talking on a hand-held phone while driving, three quarters (75%) of motorists report regularly observing other people doing this, with 44% saying they see this happening during most of their car journeys.
There is, however, a big difference in what motorists see being done by others and what they are prepared to admit to doing themselves with just 8% admitting to using a hand-held phone whilst driving. Motorists with less than 10 years’ experience are more likely to admit to talking on a hand-held mobile phone illegally (16%) compared to just 4% of those who have been driving over 25 years.
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