Using hands-free mobile whilst driving can be more dangerous than drink driving

Driver reaction times, such as the time taken to apply the brakes or steer away from danger, are 30 per cent slower when driving whilst using a hands-free mobile phone than when driving whilst over the legal alcohol limit, according to a study by Direct Line, carried out by Transport Research Laboratory (TRL).

When travelling at 70 miles per hour (mph) the affect on reaction time caused by the hands-free mobile conversation means that the vehicle travels 26ft further than one driven under ‘normal conditions' before the driver is fully engaged and able to take the appropriate action. In contrast, someone driving slightly over the legal alcohol limit would travel just 13ft further than someone driving under normal conditions before they responded - half the distance of the hands-free mobile using driver. The extra distance travelled by the car before the driver responds due to not fully concentrating on the road ahead is illustrated in the diagram below.

Previous research, highlighted by TRL in the study, has shown that any conversation taking place in the vehicle is a major distraction, with drivers' concentration levels reduced for an average of ten minutes after the conversation has ended.

Despite the delayed reaction times, it is not illegal to have a hands free mobile conversation whilst driving. Consequently it was viewed as a ‘safe activity' by the research subjects, who gave it a ‘danger rating' of just 3/10, way below other ‘every day' distractions such as ‘eating sweets' (5/10), or ‘smoking a cigarette' (5/10) whilst driving. Direct Line has found that 22 per cent of drivers have made calls on a hands-free mobile whilst behind the wheel in the last year.

Maggie Game, Head of Car Insurance at Direct Line, comments: "The news that using a hands-free mobile while driving could be more dangerous than drink driving will understandably come as a shock to many drivers who currently use a hands-free device to comply with the law. Given that drink driving was responsible for 14,480 casualties, including 460 deaths, on the road in 2007, the potential for casualties from mobile phone use is frightening."

Despite an apparent lack of awareness of the full dangers of driving while using a hands-free phone, 52 per cent of those asked would be in support of an outright ban on using mobile phones while driving.

Maggie Game continues: "Hopefully now that drivers are aware of the dangers inherent in the use of hands-free mobile phones whilst driving, the act of having any but the most crucial conversations will take on the status of a social taboo in much the same way that drink driving has. Whilst serious injuries and death on the road as a result of drink driving are decreasing, the potential for mobile phones to be a contributory factor in serious road accidents can only increase."

Other findings from Direct Line include:

Nearly ten million drivers (30 per cent) admit to reading text messages when driving

The younger generation (18 to 34 year olds) is the one most likely to use a mobile whilst driving.

For further details on Direct Line Motor Insurance visit directline.com