Press releases

Take and make phone calls on the move?

Not US, say drivers!

Every day on Britain's roads you may see quite a different story.

But just a small percentage of UK drivers – 5% in fact – currently admit to using their hand-held mobile phones on the move.

So says a new survey of UK motorists which shows that just one per cent of motorists admit they still make or receive regular mobile phone calls when driving.

A further four per cent say they do it “occasionally” while on the move, and 21% say they only use a hands free phone.

But the vast majority of British drivers seem to have finally got the message, according to breakdown service Autonational Rescue, which produced the latest survey.

Ronan Hart, Autonational’s marketing manager, said: “Effectively, that means just one in twenty drivers now take or make calls on the move, which sounds very encouraging.”

A similar survey in 2002, showed that 14% of all motorists (including 18% of male drivers and 8% of women drivers) said they used mobile phones while driving.

“So we have seen a great trend towards much safer driving now that it is illegal to use a hand-held phone on the move, and the figures have probably bottomed out given that some people won’t worry about breaking the law or driving safely, “ he added.

Eight per cent of drivers said they only receive or make calls when safely parked; one quarter of all motorists said they leave their mobile switched on but don’t answer it until later and 27% said they switch their mobiles off in the car.

Twelve per cent said they did not have a mobile phone.

Regulations are in force making it a specific offence to use a hand-held phone when driving in the UK.

Autonational Image Gallery

Need an image related to this release?
Email us here

•	FAST FACT – a straining, cold car engine on a short journey of less than two miles produces 60% more pollution than a car with a warmed up engine.

And a third of all motorists said they would be prepared to walk, cycle or take public transport on short journeys to help the environment if they had known that.

Now there’s no excuse!

Twenty six percent said they “might change” but 31% said they would not change their environmentally unfriendly approach to short journeys.

The survey was undertaken across Great Britain by RSGB Omnibus, part of the TNS Group.

For more information about Autonational Rescue, the car breakdown service with the no claims bonus, call 07000 999 911

Issued by CPR Works
Tel: 01902 680068
Contact: Jenny Carr/Roger Eversley
E-mail:jenny@cpr.co.uk
Web: www.cpr.co.uk

Back