Safe driving on the line

Cellphone use at the wheel causes at least four road deaths a year here.

Drivers using hand-held mobile phones at the wheel are four times more likely to be involved in an accident, according to a British study.

The results come as police in New Zealand want a new law to catch "distracted" drivers who take their mind off the road.

The "driving while distracted" offence would include cellphone use and cover habits such as reading a map, putting on makeup, changing a CD and tuning the radio.

At least four road deaths a year in New Zealand are estimated to be caused by cellphones, but police believe the figure is probably higher.

In Britain, one-in-three motorists still use hand-held mobiles. "That's more than 10 million motorists putting themselves and others in danger as a result," says the What Car? magazine survey.

The British Department for Transport says its surveys show that just 1.5 per cent of drivers use their mobile phone while driving.

But What Car? says the figure is closer to 33 per cent.

The magazine surveyed 1000 British motorists - 24 per cent said they still used a hand-held for quick calls, 8.6 per cent admitted they used one all the time and 8.8 per cent said they still used a phone while driving, but intended to stop doing so.

Although 58.6 per cent of motorists claim they no longer use a hand-held phone at the wheel, the survey shows around 10 million drivers do.

The magazine's editor Steve Fowler said: "Our survey proves hand-held mobile phone use at the wheel is a far more widespread problem than the Department of Transport thinks.

"We'd like to see a hands-free kit provided with every new phone sold by law, and more traffic police on the roads to enforce mobile phone laws, which will eventually put penalty points on licences."

British Road Safety Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "I'm pleased the results still show that drivers who think it's acceptable to use their phones without stopping are in the minority.

"We stand by our survey work as an objective way to monitor use. We'll also be monitoring annual prosecution figures."

Police in Britain fined 1888 drivers in 2003 for using cellphones at the wheel. Figures for 2004 won't be available until next year.

Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of road safety charity Brake, said: "It is appalling so many drivers put lives at risk by driving while using mobile phones.

"Driving is the most dangerous thing that most of us do on a daily basis, and it requires our full attention.

"It's essential that the penalty for using a phone while driving is increased significantly. Research clearly shows using mobiles while driving increases the risk of crashing several times over."