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| Driver mobile phone use 'rising' | Driver mobile phone use 'rising' |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| More drivers are using hand-held mobile phones than before tougher penalties were introduced two years ago, the Transport Research Laboratory has said. | More drivers are using hand-held mobile phones than before tougher penalties were introduced two years ago, the Transport Research Laboratory has said. |
| It found 2.6% of car drivers used hand-held phones in 2006 - when fines rose to £60 and three points could be added to licences - compared with 2.8% now. | It found 2.6% of car drivers used hand-held phones in 2006 - when fines rose to £60 and three points could be added to licences - compared with 2.8% now. |
| Phone-using drivers are four times more likely to crash. The TRL said drivers' "reaction time is likely to be slower". | Phone-using drivers are four times more likely to crash. The TRL said drivers' "reaction time is likely to be slower". |
| Its study in London involved almost 12,000 cars and taxis and 2,500 vans. | Its study in London involved almost 12,000 cars and taxis and 2,500 vans. |
| 'Slower reaction' | 'Slower reaction' |
| The report's authors believe there is no reason to think the picture at the 30 sites in London is not the same right across the UK. | The report's authors believe there is no reason to think the picture at the 30 sites in London is not the same right across the UK. |
| Researchers said the 2.6% of car drivers using hand-held mobile phones in 2006 almost halved to 1.4% the following year, when tougher penalties were brought in. | Researchers said the 2.6% of car drivers using hand-held mobile phones in 2006 almost halved to 1.4% the following year, when tougher penalties were brought in. |
| The fine was doubled to £60 and three points were put on offenders' licences. But since then the number has been rising. | The fine was doubled to £60 and three points were put on offenders' licences. But since then the number has been rising. |
| This year 2.8% of car drivers were found using a hand-held mobile - more than before the tougher penalties came into force. | This year 2.8% of car drivers were found using a hand-held mobile - more than before the tougher penalties came into force. |
| Some people are still needlessly risking their own lives and putting others in danger for the sake of a text or a call Government spokesman | Some people are still needlessly risking their own lives and putting others in danger for the sake of a text or a call Government spokesman |
| And it is the same picture with taxi and van drivers. They too are now more likely to use a hand-held mobile phone than they were before the penalties were increased. | And it is the same picture with taxi and van drivers. They too are now more likely to use a hand-held mobile phone than they were before the penalties were increased. |
| The researchers split drivers into three age groups and found women aged 17-29 were most likely to use a hand-held mobile whilst driving, while men aged 30-59 were most likely to use a hands-free mobile. | The researchers split drivers into three age groups and found women aged 17-29 were most likely to use a hand-held mobile whilst driving, while men aged 30-59 were most likely to use a hands-free mobile. |
| "Your reaction time is likely to be slower, you're more likely to drift across into the adjacent lanes and you're less aware of what's going on around you," said Dr Nick Reed from TRL. | "Your reaction time is likely to be slower, you're more likely to drift across into the adjacent lanes and you're less aware of what's going on around you," said Dr Nick Reed from TRL. |
| "You're less likely to check the mirrors and know there are vehicles there so you're at a much greater risk of having an accident." | "You're less likely to check the mirrors and know there are vehicles there so you're at a much greater risk of having an accident." |
| The same report shows hands-free mobile use by car drivers has risen consistently, from 1.2% in 2006 to 4.8% in 2009. | The same report shows hands-free mobile use by car drivers has risen consistently, from 1.2% in 2006 to 4.8% in 2009. |
| But safety campaigners argue hands-free mobiles are little better because most of the problems come from the concentration needed to have a conversation while driving. | But safety campaigners argue hands-free mobiles are little better because most of the problems come from the concentration needed to have a conversation while driving. |
| 'Incredibly worrying' | 'Incredibly worrying' |
| Sarah Fatica, from road safety charity Brake, said the figures were a cause for concern. | Sarah Fatica, from road safety charity Brake, said the figures were a cause for concern. |
| "It's incredibly worrying that people still don't take seriously the dangers that talking on your phone while driving pose," she said. | "It's incredibly worrying that people still don't take seriously the dangers that talking on your phone while driving pose," she said. |
| "The biggest problem is that your concentration is impaired, and that could result in you crashing and hurting yourself, hurting somebody else, or worst of all killing somebody." | "The biggest problem is that your concentration is impaired, and that could result in you crashing and hurting yourself, hurting somebody else, or worst of all killing somebody." |
| AA president Edmund King said: "I think we need more police campaigns, I think we need more publicity campaigns. | AA president Edmund King said: "I think we need more police campaigns, I think we need more publicity campaigns. |
| "If you think back to seat-belt wearing, 'clunk, click, every trip' and the Jimmy Saville stuff way back gradually had an effect but it does take time." | "If you think back to seat-belt wearing, 'clunk, click, every trip' and the Jimmy Saville stuff way back gradually had an effect but it does take time." |
| Stephen Ladyman, the former transport minister who introduced the tougher penalties, said the legislation may need to be modified. | Stephen Ladyman, the former transport minister who introduced the tougher penalties, said the legislation may need to be modified. |
| "The government is probably going to have to move to a situation where it's not just the police who can issue you a fine," he said. | |
| "Perhaps they're going to have to give powers to Police Community Support Officers or even traffic wardens if they spot you using your hand-held phone." | |
| In a statement, the government said: "We run publicity campaigns to highlight the dangers of calling or texting at the wheel. | In a statement, the government said: "We run publicity campaigns to highlight the dangers of calling or texting at the wheel. |
| "However, some people are still needlessly risking their own lives and putting others in danger for the sake of a text or a call." | "However, some people are still needlessly risking their own lives and putting others in danger for the sake of a text or a call." |