Millions of us are breaking the law on texting at wheel of the car
MILLIONS of motorists are breaking the law by texting while at the wheel of their car, a shocking survey revealed yesterday.
Nearly two thirds do not know that it is illegal to text in a stationary car if the engine is running. And one in eight even thinks it is legal to text while driving, according to the RAC study.
Using a hand-held phone at the wheel has been illegal since 2003 even when the car is stationary. Offenders face three points on their licence and a £100 fine.
Research has shown that using a phone can be far more dangerous than drink-driving. A driver’s reaction times are 46 per cent slower than normal when making a call on a hand-held mobile and 37 per cent slower when texting.
In contrast, the reactions of motorists at the drink-drive limit are only 13 per cent slower.
Many regard using a phone while stationary at traffic lights or in congestion as less dangerous than using it while on the move
The RAC says its survey of 1,500 motorists reveals a “frightening level of ignorance” about the law and the risks hand-held devices pose.
Technical director David Bizley said: “We are a nation of phone addicts and recognise a mobile phone ringing as a major source of in-car distraction. But many regard using a phone while stationary at traffic lights or in congestion as less dangerous than using it while on the move.
“They forget, for example, that when concentrating on their phone, a cyclist may pull up beside or just ahead of them and they may pull away, totally unaware of the cyclist’s presence.”