Say yes to cheaper van, home and car insurance

In spite of numerous newspaper, television and radio campaigns, drivers are still ignoring the ban on using a mobile phone whilst driving, according to two police forces in the north-west.

They estimate that by the end of the year over 20,000 will have been caught using their mobiles and fined in the Merseyside region.

Merseyside police have issued over 6,000 fixed penalty notices already with Cheshire police adding another 2,691 so far.

Prohibited in 2003, many road safety campaigners feel that the leniency of the penalties is not enough to convince motorists to simply switch off their phones whilst on the move.

Although the Department of Transport (DoT) plans to double the fine, road safety groups believe that education and not more fines is the key to lowering the number of motorists talking on the phone.

Adrian Shurmer, a former VIP Protection police driver with the Lancashire Constabulary, told the Liverpool Daily Post: "The only way to improve safety is education.

"If the government was really serious about saving lives it would make people have motorway training, lessons in how to drive in snow, and how to overtake safely," he added.

DoT surveys show illegal mobile phone usage, which involves using the handset to speak, rather than a hands-free kit, still stands at 1.5 per cent of all car drivers at any one time, the same level as it was three years ago.

Even if motorists are impeccable drivers, accidents still happen, so it is important for all drivers to have adequate breakdown cover and car insurance.