42 percent of drivers use mobiles

More than two in five drivers in the UK are illegally using hands-held mobiles while at the wheel, with some even taking pictures of crashes, according to a survey by the motoring organisation, "AA" and polling group "Populus". Of the 42 percent who used mobiles while driving, 60 percent said it had distracted them. As many as 74 percent of the 21,000 drivers polled said they had seen others using mobile phones on some or most journeys, with 25 percent seeing mobile use on all trips. Around 20 percent admitted using a mobile to send a text, 4 percent checked emails and 2 percent even sent emails while at the controls. Two per cent read Twitter or Facebook updates while at the wheel and 1 percent even tweeted while driving. AA president Edmund King said "Drivers need to concentrate on driving rather than be distracted by their digital technology. Our research shows that some drivers are now using their smart phones for more than talking on the move"