Drivers back stiffer penalties for mobile phone use
More than two thirds of drivers back higher fines for mobile phone use behind the wheel.
Motorists caught using their phones while driving face a £200 fine and six points on their licence.
However, a survey by Allianz revealed that 67% of motorists surveyed believe the fines should be higher and 54% back increasing the number of penalty points received.
Despite this, 31% admitted to texting while driving and 19% said they regularly use their phone for navigation. And while 18% said that phone use had led to a near miss in the last three years, only 37% considered using their phones while driving to be high risk, with 21% believing it was ‘barely a risk at all.’
Matt Cox, chief claims officer at Allianz UK, said: “It’s encouraging that UK drivers recognise both the seriousness of phone distraction and their own responsibility for staying focused.
“Distraction on the road is not a new issue, and neither is the risk posed by smartphones. But awareness must translate into behaviour. Checking a message, making a call or changing something on a screen may feel routine, yet those few seconds can be enough for conditions on the road to change completely.”
