MobileMonday Global

^{93% of road users are aware of UK legislation} Only three in hundred admit getting caught

Drivers in Great Britain know it's illegal to use a mobile phone at the wheel. Despite the new, tougher laws, nearly two-thirds agree that the penalties are not harsh enough.

Recent statistics from the Post Office prove that Great Britain is a nation of phone lovers. 13 million people are 'nomophobes' (fear of being with 'no mobile') or scared to be without our mobile phone. The reality of this is that drivers are unlikely to leave their mobile phones at home. However, the government message about not calling while driving is getting through shows a recent survey. The majority of drivers know that using a mobile phone at the wheel is dangerous, and breaking the law if not used in the correct manner.

The Jabra research, which surveyed over 2 000 consumers in the GB, shows that 93 percent of motorists are aware that using a handheld phone while at the wheel without a handsfree kit could now be treated as dangerous driving and carry a prison sentence of up to two years.

68 percent of GB motorists think that this penalty should be tougher. They believe that the penalties would encourage drivers to stop using their handheld at the wheel. More than half of respondents had at one point or another felt endangered by phone addict drivers clearly holding their phones to their ear while driving.

The survey showed that of those continuing to use their phone whilst driving, 25 percent state, 'I am not likely to get caught', and a further 24 percent cite that they just couldn't miss a call.

Only 12 percent of respondents knew someone who had been caught by the police, and only 3 percent admitted that they'd ever been caught.

17 percent have actually stopped using their phone as a result of the new law.

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