Europe News: UK drivers still slaves to their mobile phones
On 27 February 2007, the UK government introduced the penalty of three penalty points for drivers caught using a hand-held mobile phone and increased the fine from ?30 to ?60.
The DfT claims that its research shows a 40% reduction in the number of car drivers seen using hand-held mobile phones between September 2006 and August 2007.
But police statistics covering England and Wales reveal that 185,000 drivers were caught using hand-held phones in 2007, almost 9% more than in 2006.
According to statistics quoted by the RAC, the young and techno savvy were more likely to text and drive in congested parts of the country, and the level of texting whilst driving differs throughout the UK. It is highest in London (53%), and Manchester (50%), and lowest in Aberdeen (31%), Edinburgh (36%), Bristol (36%) and Glasgow (38%).
