Car insurance news
Cheap car insurance at risk from mobile phones
An American study has shown that mobile phone use at the wheel can pose as much as risk to cheap car insurance as drink driving.
It found that the level of impairment experienced by someone drink driving is about the same as that of someone using a mobile phone, whether hands free or not.
The study stated, "Neither accident rates, nor reaction times to vehicles braking in front of the participant, nor recovery of lost speed following braking differed significantly."
Fred Drews of the University of Utah, which undertook the study, said, "If legislators really want to address driver distraction, then they should consider outlawing cell phone use while driving."
At present, it is not illegal to use a hands-free phone whilst driving in the UK, but using a hand-held device is an offence and can be punished by an on-the-spot-fine.
Unfortunately, there are no statistics available to show how many drivers have to make a car insurance claim following an accident while using a mobile phone.
Each year around 90,000 people in the UK are convicted of drink driving and lose their cheap car insurance deal. However, if a total mobile phone ban while driving was introduced, it is thought that many more would be convicted and suffer the motor insurance penalties.