Dangerous driving in UK

AN RAC survey has revealed that two–thirds of British motorists witnessed at least one driver using a mobile phone during their last hour on the road.  

The research questioned 2,120 motorists and shockingly suggests that the problem of using phones illegally while driving has got worse despite tightening laws across Europe. Here in Spain, the issue is ever evolving, with the local government now installing new state of the art cameras to detect drivers who refuse to wear a seat belt and also who talk on the phone whilst driving. 

Six per cent of those asked in the UK, reported seeing between five and seven drivers breaking the law.

Most people accepted that this was wrong with only 26 per cent of people reporting that the saw no wrongdoing.

A spokesman from RAC said: “Thirteen years after the introduction of the current law forbidding use of a hand held phone at the wheel of a vehicle, this behaviour is far from being stamped out.

“In fact, the results of our research suggest the problem has got worse rather than better.

“Using a hand-held phone should be regarded as being as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving.”

Responses to a consultation held earlier this year by the government are being analysed. Proposals included tougher penalties for those who break the law. 

Whilst MPs in the UK are also considering raising the number of penalty points for those caught from three to four.

Fines may also be increased by 50 per cent, to £150.

In the UK, the use of a mobile phone was a contributing factor in 21 fatal accidents in 2014, according to Department for Transport statistics.