Mobile Phone Related Car Accidents

Nearly half of all motorists regularly risk their lives and the lives of other road-users by texting and driving, the RAC Foundation claims.

According to a survey of 2,000 Facebook users, 45% of UK drivers flout the law by typing out messages while at the wheel.

It also revealed that only 11% of motorists turn off their phones or switch them to mute so as not to be distracted by incoming calls or messages.

The survey found texting and driving is worst in London (53% of people), followed by Manchester (50%), but lowest in Aberdeen (31%), Edinburgh (36%), Bristol (36%) and Glasgow (38%).

Motorists who break the law by using their phones face a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

Elizabeth Dainton, research development manager for the RAC Foundation, said: "Urgent action is needed to address this increasing problem, especially as the 'Y' generation, who have grown up with technology and computers, begin to take to the road."

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Nicola Meese from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "It is horrifying to think that large numbers of motorists are regularly driving in such a dangerous fashion and that the risks of doing so are apparently not registering.

"We deal with a number of minor accidents in which it is suspected that the driver who has caused the accident has been using his/her mobile 'phone at the relevant time. It is only in the more serious cases that the police are involved and so are in a position to check the driver's 'phone records to see if that has in fact been the case."