Mobile phone use in cars increases

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Car insurance companies will be interested to learn that the number of drivers punished for using hand-held mobile phones has decreased, despite figures showing the problem has grown.

Instances of fixed-penalty notices issued by the police for the offence fell by 5 per cent last year, from 122,000 to 116,000. A total of 167,000 of the offences were recorded two years ago.

However, the proportion of motorists using hand-held mobiles has increased from 1.1 per cent to 1.4 per cent for car drivers and from 2.2 per cent to 2.6 per cent for van and lorry drivers, a survey carried out for the Department of Transport last October found.

Offenders were hit with a fine of 60 pounds from February 2007, doubled from the original level of 30 pounds, along with the added deterrent of three penalty points on their licence. It had first become a specific offence in 2003.

Andrew Howard, head of road safety for the AA, said: "A more visible deterrent is needed. It would be useful to have signs saying 'you have just been through a mobile phone check'."

Copyright © Press Association 2010

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