Company News from yesinsurance
2 October 2007 UK Should Take Lead From Arnie On Phones And Driving, Says Insurer
A new law preventing teenage motorists from using a mobile phone whilst driving, which was introduced last month by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, should be adapted for use in the UK, according to car insurer, yesinsurance.co.uk.
Research studies indicate that around 24% of UK drivers occasionally use the phone whilst driving, but yesinsurance.co.uk believes that this figure is much higher in the under-20 age group. Statistics also show that this is the most dangerous age group as far as driving accidents are concerned.
“The California law prohibits mobile phone use in drivers under the age of 18, but we would like to see this extended to all teenagers in the UK,” said Paul Purdy of yesinsurance.co.uk.
Latest figures show that 32 per cent of 17 to 20 year-olds currently have a full driving licence, and 96 per cent own mobile phones.
Research compiled last month by yesinsurance.co.uk indicated that motorists using mobiles, including hands-free sets, are four times more likely to crash and have an average 30 per cent slower reaction time than drinkers at the UK legal limit. As a result, the insurer says that up to 8 million drivers in the UK may be taking risks that can equal those of drink-driving, simply by using mobile phones.
The research came from the Transport Research Laboratory, The University of Sydney and the University of Utah.
“We know from our own experience as an insurer that teenage drivers present a significantly higher risk than older motorists,” said Paul Purdy.
“With research proving beyond doubt that mobile phone use increases the likelihood of an accident, we feel it would be in the interests of both the driver and other road users for mobile phone use to be restricted to drivers aged 20 and above,” he said.
