Just 1.5% use mobile in car

• One in every 67 motorists seen on phone
• Tougher laws to combat mobile use on the way
• Even hands-free is dangerous

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Just 1.5% of motorists are still using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, according to a new Government assessment.

The Department for Transport's latest roadside survey counted one in every 67 motorists using a hand-held phone.

Caroline Chisholm of road safety group Brake said: ‘It does appear to be a conservative figure – we all see so many motorists talking on a phone – but 1.5% of 30 million drivers is still a huge number.’

Although the figures only counted the motorists that were on the phone as they drove past the survey point, and not those that might be using their mobiles at other times, the DfT stood by its results. A spokesman said: 'We know that there's a lot of anecdotal evidence about mobile phone use, but we have to go with the figures we have got.'

The DfT is pushing through a new package of road safety laws, one of which will mean that motorists caught using a hand-held phone can have their licence endorsed with three or more penalty points.

Brake and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents hope the increased penalties, due later this year, will act as a greater deterrent. Both said tight enforcement of the laws by police will be crucial to their success, however.

Research has shown that motorists are four times more likely to be involved in an accident if they talk on the phone while driving. Even a hands-free phone is considered extremely distracting and should only be used for brief, essential calls.

•Tell us in confidence whether you still use your hand-held mobile phone for even quick calls - take part in our poll on the home page of Whatcar.com.