Drivers in the UK are very unlikely to get caught using a mobile phone at the wheel, a study has suggested.
Figures released by the Home Office and analysed by the Liberal Democrats suggest that only 74,000 drivers were fined in 2004 compared to the estimated 6.7 million drivers who drive while using a phone.
Lib Dem Alistair Carmichael said:
Driving while on the phone can be extremely dangerous, and it is concerning that so few drivers are being caught. Much tougher punishments must be issued to discourage drivers from driving whilst on the phone, as it is the cause of countless serious accidents.
Last year I actually received a £30 fine for using a phone while driving and is did persuade me that a hands free kit was a good investment. The problem is that most hands free kits are somewhat unreliable and can stop working at the most inappropriate times meaning a greater loss in concentration than if you were actually using a phone in the normal way.
