This report is part of an ongoing commitment of Direct Line Insurance to raise awareness of issues that affect the UK’s driving public. As Britain’s largest direct motor insurer, with more than three million customers, Direct Line has consistently campaigned for continued improvements in road safety. Over the previous thirty years the UK has led the way in road safety developments. The introduction of new measures like the use of safety cameras, the use of seatbelts and alcohol breathalyser testing, have given the UK one of the best road safety records in Europe. Direct Line believes that this envious record could now be in danger. This report contains new research commissioned by Direct Line to look at the issue of mobile phone use by drivers. Direct Line believes that this practice is responsible for an increasing number of accidents on UK roads. The findings demonstrate that the dangers are far greater than many had previously thought. This research, the first of its kind to be carried out in the UK, carries a serious health warning for all motorists: mobile phone users are as dangerous as drink-drivers. Direct Line believes that there is now a clear need to examine this issue and push for a step change in driver behaviour. Nothing less than a change in the law with a new approach to policing and sentencing backed up with public awareness campaigns, can adequately drive this message home to help create a more secure environment for all road-users. (Author/publisher)
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