Motorists continue to flout mobile phone rules

The number of motorists caught using handheld devices while driving increased by 42% last year, according to research from Confused.com – UK car insurance comparison service.

Although an increase in the number of convictions is not a surprise in itself, due to increasingly rigid government legislation and police enforcement, the fact that the convictions are still increasing at a rate of approximately 18% month-on-month suggests apathy among motorists.

This suggestion of public apathy is supported by research which was undertaken by Confused.com last year, before the government’s clamp down on mobile phone use by motorists, which revealed that more than 1 in 2 of those surveyed had seen another motorist texting and almost 1 in 3 (30%) had been the culprit of texting, themselves – a claim which suggests that old habits die hard.

However, it is hoped that adding points to motorists’ licenses, coupled with the fines which motorists with CU80s – the technical name for the conviction resulting from using handheld devices while driving – will endure should increasingly act as deterrents, as should the rise in car insurance premiums.

Confused.com’s analysis shows that one of the consequences of penalty points is steep rises in insurance premiums. On average, a driver with three points can expect premiums to leap by up to 10%, rising to 25% for six points and 50% for nine points. Worse still, the number of insurers willing to provide cover for a motorist with nine points can halve.

Commenting on the findings, Debra Williams, managing director of Confused.com said: “The findings of this research are alarming as, despite harsher penalties and stronger police enforcement, some motorists are clearly continuing to use mobile phones while driving. Even the current Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, Liam Byrne, was famously unable to ignore an incoming call in November 2007, when he was pulled over by the police.

“Although many drivers feel that they can safely respond to a text message, while staying in control of their vehicle, it is important to remember that no driver is infallible – taking your eyes off the road, even for a second, is ill-advised! The message is simple: never use a mobile phone while driving, unless you have a hands-free kit. Nothing is worth posing a threat to yourself and fellow drivers. In addition, you won’t risk driving your insurance premiums up unnecessarily.”