Industry News from Yes Insurance

The use of a hands-free kit while behind the wheel is as dangerous as drink driving, according to a new report.

A study of 40 volunteers, carried out by scientists at the University of Utah, showed that drivers were as slow to react when talking on their hands-free mobile phone as when over the drink-drive limit.

The research displayed results which could mean many drivers are putting themselves and others at risk of being involved in an accident and therefore having to make a claim on their car insurance.

Those who took part in the tests were asked to take the wheel in a driving simulator and follow a virtual car.

They were then required to stop when the car in front did and were tested on their reaction times, once without distraction, once while using a mobile phone, once while using hands-free and finally while over the drink-drive limit.

The conclusions fell in line with previous studies, showing drivers using a hands-free kit were nine per cent slower when it came to breaking, leading scientists to call for a ban on the use of any kind of mobile phone while driving.

"Just like you put yourself and other people at risk when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others at risk when you use a cellphone and drive," said professor of psychology at the University of Utah David Strayer. "The level of impairment is very similar."

New legislation is currently passing through parliament which could see drivers caught using a hands-free kit while behind the wheel given three points on their licence.

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