Using a mobile while driving is as dangerous as drink driving
Up to 8 million drivers in the UK may be taking risks that can equal those of drink-driving, simply by using hands-free mobile phones, according to car insurer, yesinsurance.co.uk.
yesinsurance.co.uk state that most of the UK's 33 million registered drivers now have a mobile phone and many of them use it whilst driving - either legally using a hands-free kit, or illegally by holding the phone in their hand. Research studies indicate that around 24% of UK drivers occasionally use the phone whilst driving.
However, whilst most drivers are aware that hand-held phones pose a risk, many are unaware that the level of risk is very similar when using a hands-free mobile phone.
"Research conducted at the University of Sydney's Injury Prevention and Trauma Care Division indicates that people who use their mobile phones whilst driving are four times more likely to crash - and this includes people using hands-free devices," said Paul Purdy of yesinsurance.co.uk.
In the UK, research conducted at the Transport Research Laboratory has found that drivers talking on both hand-held and hands-free mobile phones have on average 30 per cent slower reaction times than those who have been drinking, and 50 per cent slower times than sober drivers.
Similar results were found during tests which were undertaken at the University of Utah in the United States, comparing use of hands-free phones and drinking at the UK limit.
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