Nearly all UK motorists know that the way they use mobile phones while driving is restricted yet many will ignore the ban on hand-held mobiles if they feel they can get away with it, says the AA Motoring Trust on the second anniversary (1 December) of the UK mobile phone driving law.
A survey for the AA Trust shows that drivers across Europe are just as familiar as those in the UK with their countries mobile phone laws, even though punishment by fines varies considerably.
The Drivers in Europe survey of 2,700 drivers in 12 countries, commissioned by the Eurotest* consortium which includes the AA Motoring Trust as a partner, found that 81 per cent of UK drivers know that only a hands-free mobile phone kit can be used while on the move. A further 15.5 per cent believe that there is a total ban on mobile phone use while driving.
A mere 2.5 per cent of drivers think they can answer incoming calls on hand-held mobile phones while driving and another one per cent are aware of the law but dont know the details. Not a single driver believes they are unrestricted in their use of a mobile phone while driving.
However, an observational survey by the Transport Research Laboratory in April found that, at any one time, an average of 1.5 car drivers in every 100 were using hand-held phones, compared to 1.1 using hands-free kits. This climbed to 2.4 and 1.2 respectively for van and lorry drivers.
"The message on hand-held mobile phone use has got through to British drivers loud and clear, but many choose to ignore it if they consider the call important enough," says Andrew Howard, head of road safety for The AA Motoring Trust.
"With fewer traffic police officers on UK roads, drivers who are tempted to use their hand-held mobile phones will perceive that their chances of being caught are slim. Holding a mobile phone while driving is not seen as being as anti-social as drink-driving, although the consequences may be the same. Hard-hitting advertising campaigns and education may help."
Compared to the rest of Europe, UK drivers knowledge of their countrys mobile phone law, at 81 per cent, is eight per cent above the continental average of 73 per cent. The highest understanding of the mobile phone law is in Germany with 94 per cent, although, strangely, nearly one in 100 German drivers believe there is no restriction on the use of mobile phones in cars.
Drivers in Spain and France show the least knowledge of their mobile phone laws at 47 per cent, although a further 51 per cent of drivers in both those countries believe there is an outright ban on the use of mobile phones by drivers. Spanish law allows drivers to use hands-free mobile phones but prohibits any earpiece attachments.
This 51 per cent, the highest level in Europe, is more than double the European average (24.4 per cent) for drivers who believe that there is a complete ban on the use of mobile phones in cars. Three in 20 UK drivers also thinks that there is an outright ban.
In pure road safety terms, the percentage of drivers who know their countrys law on the use of mobile phone laws or think that there is a complete ban is in the high 90s virtually across Europe. The lowest is Norway with 86.4 per cent and highest in Portugal and Austria with more than 99 per cent. The Swiss have no excuse with a 100 per cent safe approach to mobile phone use while Great Britain records 96 per cent of drivers.
Size of fine appears to have little bearing on how well drivers know the legal limits of mobile phone use in cars. In France, where the fine is 35, 98 per cent of drivers know that only hands-free kits are permitted or think that there is a total ban. That rises to 99.4 per cent in Austria where fines start at 25. This compares with 86.4 per cent in Norway where the fine is the equivalent of 167.
"The Road Safety Bill includes an increase in the fine for using a hand-held phone while driving from 30 to 60 - and the imposition of three penalty points. This may not create a sea-change in driver behaviour but will help to remind motorists that they shouldnt. Points on your licence, a punishment not used in many European countries, certainly concentrates the mind," says Howard.
"Drivers should also remember that judges and juries will show them absolutely no mercy if it can be proved in court that they were holding a mobile phone when they killed or maimed another road user."
NOTES TO EDITORS: *The Eurotest consortium comprises motoring organisations in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. The survey, canvassing the opinions of 2,747 drivers across Europe, was conducted between 16 June and 31 July 2005. The responses were analysed by the Institute of Applied Marketing and Communications Research in Erfurt, Germany.
DRIVER RESPONSES TO: ARE YOU ALLOWED TO USE YOUR TELEPHONE WHILE DRIVING?
Great Britain
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: 30 = 45. This will rise to 60 = 90 if enacted under the Road Safety Bill. Drivers also face three penalty points on their licence.)
Yes, without restriction 0.0%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 81.0%
Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 2.5%No 15.5%Dont know 1.0%
Italy
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: 68 to 275)
Yes, without restriction 0.0%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 80.3%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 2.6%No 17.1%Dont know 0.0%
Portugal
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited)
Yes, without restriction 0.0%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 87.9%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 0.0%No 11.6%Dont know 0.5%
Germany
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: 40)
Yes, without restriction 0.7%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 94.4%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 2.6%No 2.3%Dont know 0.0%
Slovenia
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: 20,000SIT = 84)
Yes, without restriction 1.3%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 64.5%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 1.3%No 32.9%Dont know 0.0%
Holland
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: 138)
Yes, without restriction 0.3%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 80.9%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 0.6%No 17.8%Dont know 0.3%
France
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: 35)
Yes, without restriction 0.3%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 47.0%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 1.4%No 51.0%Dont know 0.3%
Croatia
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: 500HRK = 68)
Yes, without restriction 0.4%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 69.0%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 1.9%No 28.4%Dont know 0.4%
Norway
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine:1,300 NOK = 167)
Yes, without restriction 3.9%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 86.4%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 3.9%No 0.0%Dont know 5.8%
Austria
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: from 25)
Yes, without restriction 0.0%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 92.2%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 0.7%No 7.2%Dont know 0.0%
Spain
(LAW: Fully hands-free permitted only, earpieces and headphones banned. Hand-held prohibited, Fine: up to 91)
Yes, without restriction 0.3%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 47.0%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 1.2%No 51.2%Dont know 0.3%
Switzerland
(LAW: Hands-free permitted, hand-held prohibited, Fine: 100 CHF = 64)
Yes, without restriction 0.0%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 75.7%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 0.0%No 24.3%Dont know 0.0%
Overall
Yes, without restriction 0.5%Yes, but only using a hands-free kit 73.0%Yes, but can only answer incoming calls on hand-held phones 1.5%No 24.4%Dont know 0.6%
