There has been some interesting research by Gocompare.com, the comparison site, released in June 2013, and by Santander earlier this year (April 2013), focusing upon driver behaviour and distractions.
The research by Gocompare.com concludes the following:
- 69% of drivers eat whilst driving
- 34% of drivers smoke whilst driving
- 31% of drivers speak and hold a mobile phone whilst driving
- 30% of drivers read or text a message whilst driving
- 23% of drivers use a smartphone while driving
Drivers in the age group 25 to 34 are most likely to be distracted while driving; 48% of this age group had either read or sent a text and 22% had either written or checked email when driving.
Santander’s research concluded that 25% of drivers sent a text or fiddled with the car stereo while driving, behaviour which accounted for near misses for 25% female drivers and 33%+ of male drivers.
Additionally, 11% of men and 15% of women admitted to crashing a vehicle because of a distraction. This means that large sections of the driving population are at risk of causing injury to themselves and others, and are at an even greater risk of facing criminal prosecution for careless or dangerous driving, or death by careless or dangerous driving.
The penalties can range from points on your licence and substantial fines to disqualification from driving and even imprisonment.
Next month police will be able to impose ‘on the spot fines’ for lesser offences of careless driving.
If you are facing such an allegation, whether by charge or summons, or need to save your licence, you will need top motoring lawyers to help you through the whole process.
Leading traffic offence lawyers such as us provide a first class, effective, supportive service for reasonable fees. We have an excellent record when defending driving offences over the last thirty years.
Contact Jeffrey Lewis or complete our online enquiry form.
