Causing a collision would not be enough to put some drivers off using their handheld phones illegally at the wheel, according to research for the RAC’s Be Phone Smart campaign.
Presented with a range of scenarios which might make them stop using their phone for good, 60% of drivers said causing a collision; 55% said being caught by a police officer and 54% said knowing a victim of a collision where handheld phone use was a factor. Causing a near-miss would stop just 53% of drivers from using their phones for good.
Of those who said they would consider giving up behind-the-wheel mobile use for good, 25% of respondents listed the police as the positive influence that would make them stop. Just 18% said family members would have the greatest clout when being encouraged to give up in-car mobile use. And more than half (57%) of those who admitted to using a phone at the wheel said sitting in stationary traffic increases the likelihood that they will reach for their phone.
“It seems reasonable to expect that causing an accident while using a handheld phone would be enough to force every driver to change their ways,” said Pete Williams, spokesperson for the campaign. “But our data suggests otherwise – while six in 10 motorists told us they thought that would motivate them to kick the illegal habit, that indicates a remarkable four in 10 didn’t think it would. This is a worrying statistic and suggests that some drivers are still failing to see just how distracting using a handheld phone at the wheel can be, even though it has been illegal in the UK since 2003. Our research also highlights the extent to which sitting in traffic congestion is intrinsically linked to the compulsion to interact with a handheld device – drivers see this as ‘spare time’ to fill by using their phone, but it remains illegal and dangerous.”
The penalties for using a handheld phone at the wheel increased on 1 March 2017. Motorists caught using a phone while driving now receive six points on their licence and a £200 fine.
