Two-thirds of drivers unaware of tougher mobile phone misuse fines, says RAC

Of those who persist in using a handheld phone an overwhelming majority (87%) said it is something they do when they are on their own and not when others are in the car with them

Of those who persist in using a handheld phone an overwhelming majority (87%) said it is something they do when they are on their own and not when others are in the car with them

Few motorists appear to be aware of the penalties they can incur when misusing a mobile phone while drivers, research by the RAC has revealed.

Nearly two-thirds of drivers (64%) remain unaware what the consequences of breaking the law, which as introduced 15 years ago.

Tougher penalties for using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel were introduced in March. The new penalty was set at six points on the driver’ license and a £200 fine.

However, the RAC found that over a quarter of drivers (26%) are not aware that the penalties have even changed. The study of 2,000 UK drivers also found that just 36% of motorists surveyed could correctly state that the current penalties for using a handheld mobile phone while driving are. 

Despite the fact that just under a third of motorists (31%) believe the current penalties are still not enough of a deterrent to make drivers stop using a phone illegally, they believe more visible enforcement of the law is the key to getting people to change their behaviour (41%) rather than introducing even stronger penalties (22%).

Some 18% of drivers advocate the blocking of mobile phone signals within cars altogether, while one in 10 (10%) think more public awareness campaigns, such as those run by the Government’s THINK! initiative are what would make persistent drivers finally stop.

The research also looked at the reasons drivers gave for either continuing to use a handheld phone while driving, or for finally deciding to ‘hang up’ their handheld phone for good.

Some 78% said they continue to do it despite fearing they will get caught by a police officer, while nearly a quarter (23%) think they can safely drive and use a handheld phone at the same time. One in 10 (11%) say they believe the road safety risks of combining driving with something as distracting as using a handheld phone are ‘overstated’.

However, 31% of all drivers surveyed said they have made the decision to stop using a handheld phone at the wheel, with a small proportion (12%) having done so after the announcement of the tougher penalties in September 2016. Drivers gave a range of reasons for deciding to kick the handheld phone habit – nearly half (44%) said it was the impact of road safety campaigns from the likes of THINK!  and Be Phone Smart campaigns, more than a third (36%) said it was the fear of getting caught and a similar proportion (34%) said it was the risk of causing an accident.

Of those who persist in using a handheld phone an overwhelming majority (87%) said it is something they do when they are on their own and not when others are in the car with them. There could be a variety of reasons for this: from these drivers not wanting friends and family to know they do it, through to the phone being company on their journey, or even to alleviate boredom.

The latest DfT accident figures show that the number of fatal collisions caused by motorists using a mobile phone while driving are rising. There were 32 fatal collisions in 2016, up from 22 the year before, and a total of 2,210 collisions of all severities where a mobile phone was involved between 2012 and 2016.

In response to the survey, RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “Despite extensive publicity and awareness-raising campaigns run at both a local and national level it is remarkable that such a high proportion of drivers seemingly remain unaware of the current penalties for using a handheld phone at the wheel.

“The law around handheld phone use by drivers, and the penalties associated with ignoring it, could not be clearer. Yet every year there are dozens of fatal crashes caused by motorists who have allowed themselves to be distracted by their phone.

“Some drivers have a genuine addiction to their phone, given how many are prepared to use it illegally. While it is reassuring that a good number of motorists have decided to stop doing it, there is still much more to be done.”

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, said: “The law surrounding mobile phone use behind the wheel has been widely publicised, and the increase in penalties is representative of how prevalent this dangerous practice is. However, notwithstanding the legal repercussions, the main thing we want drivers to do is arrive safely at their destinations.

“When you are driving, the priority should be the safety of yourself, your passengers, and your fellow road users. Whatever is happening on your mobile phone can always wait.”

The RAC’s website carries a guide to mobile phone laws governing drivers. Be Phone Smart is the RAC’s public campaign to end drivers’ addiction to using handheld phones whilst driving.