Millions use mobiles at the wheel - Shocking findings in whatcar.com survey

Millions of motorists are flouting driving laws and putting themselves and others in danger, a whatcar.com survey has found.

Department for Transport figures suggest that just 1.5% of drivers use their mobile phone while driving – whatcar.com’s survey of 1000 motorists puts the figure nearly 22 times higher.

In all, 24% said they still used a handheld for quick calls, while 8.6% admitted they used one all of the time. A further 8.8% promised they would stop.

Although 58.6% of motorists claim they never use a handheld phone at the wheel, the whatcar.com survey still shows a staggering ten million drivers could be putting themselves and others in danger. Studies show they're four times as likely to be involved in an accident.

What Car? group editor Steve Fowler said: 'Our survey proves hand-held mobile phone use at the wheel is a far more widespread problem than the DfT thinks.

'It doesn't matter if you're only making a quick call – hand-held phones are dangerously distracting. We'd like to see a hands-free kit provided with every new phone sold by law, and more traffic police on the roads to enforce mobile phone laws, which will eventually put penalty points on licences.'

The DfT's 'snapshot' survey caught just 1.5% of the 100,000 motorists redhanded last April.

Whatcar.com has teamed up with The Carphone Warehouse, the largest mobile phone retailer in the UK, to offer a 10% discount on hands-free equipment to encourage motorists to use their mobiles more responsibly. A voucher for the discount is available on whatcar.com and thecarphonewarehouse.com, and can be redeemed at any of its 600 UK stores until Christmas 2005.