Many motorists still admit to using their mobile phones while driving despite harsher penalties for the offence being introduced earlier this year, according to new research.

 

The RAC’s latest ‘Report on Motoring’ reveals that the number of motorists who say they talk, text, use social media and take photographs or videos at the wheel has fallen from around a third last year to a quarter this year.

 

But of those who said they were aware of the new penalties for the crime – which now lands offenders six points on their licence and a £200 fine – 15% said it has not made them stop. Meanwhile 11% described themselves as occasional users of phones at the wheel and a further 11% were not aware of the law change.

 

RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams said: “Twelve months ago our research revealed that the illegal use of handheld mobile phones by drivers was at epidemic proportions. A year on and the situation still remains dire.

 

“It is clear we have a hard core of persistent offenders who believe they can get away with it by continuing to flout the law every day, and we fear this may get worse with fewer dedicated roads policing officers.”

 

The new report also saw motorists name the illegal use of mobile phones by drivers as their number one motoring concern, with 16% naming it as such. This has grown from 13% last year. In comparison 10% ranked the condition of local roads as their top concern.

 

The RAC’s report comes days after a coalition of organisations led by road safety charity Brake wrote to technology platforms Android and Microsoft and mobile operators' association GSMA urging them to include an ‘opt out’ driving mode as standard across mobile handsets.

 

Brake director of campaigns Jason Wakeford said: “The illegal use of handheld mobile phones when driving is a growing menace and a major threat to road safety.

 

“Drivers should always put phones on silent and out of reach in the glove compartment. The mobile phone industry must also play its part, including technology as standard which helps keep drivers’ attention on the road, saving lives and preventing serious injuries.”