Motorists continue to flout mobile phone laws

However, the true figure could be much higher as 93% of motorists say they've seen someone else using a mobile phone at the wheel in the past seven days.

In spite of tougher penalties being introduced in 2007, which include the threat of jail if a driver is prosecuted for dangerous driving, there has been no drop in the number admitting to using a handheld mobile over the past year. Last year's survey also showed that 36% admit to using their phone while driving. Only a slight drop of 6% has been recorded since 2005.

Steve Fowler, What Car? editor, commented: "The message is obviously not getting through - if you use a handheld mobile phone while driving, you may end up killing yourself or others.

"Research has shown that using a mobile phone at the wheel could be more dangerous than drink driving. Yet it seems you don't have to travel far to see someone who's oblivious to the dangers - they're all too easy to spot by their bad driving habits."

[B]What Car? Survey Results[/B]

[B][U]When did you last use a handheld mobile phone as you drove?[/B][/U]

Today - 12%

Yesterday - 5%

Last week - 8%

Last month - 11%

Never - 64%

[B][U]When did you last see another motorist using a handheld mobile phone?[/B][/U]

Today - 57%

Yesterday - 18%

Last week - 18%

Last month - 4%

Never - 3%

Credits: JRC