Almost half of drivers who admit to using a mobile phone behind the wheel are doing so for navigational purposes, a new survey suggests.
In the survey, carried out for Swinton Insurance, 16% of the 2,000 respondents confessed to using their mobile phone while driving.
According to the survey, 17-24 year-olds are the most likely age group to hold their phone when driving (30%) – with drivers over the age of 55 being the least likely (4%).
Of the respondents who admitted to carrying out the offence, 46% said they do so for navigation purposes. 30% said they answered calls and texts, while 27% listen to music.
However, 70% said the fear of a collision stops them from using a mobile phone at the wheel, while 61% said a potential driving ban acts as a deterrent.
Just 30% of motorists think that putting their mobile phone out of sight would deter them from using it.
In March 2017, tougher penalties – a £200 fine and six penalty points – were introduced for drivers who commit the offence.
However, 66% of respondents were unable to recount the correct penalty fine amount – a figure described by Swinton Insurance as ‘staggering’.
What is even more staggering is their cartography skills – never knew that Edinburgh was in the “North East”!
David Weston, Corby
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