A NEW SURVEY has shown that the number of drivers using mobile phones while at the wheel has increased over the last two years, despite a number of significant safety campaigns – with some motorists now going online while driving.

AA Ireland’s motor insurance poll showed that 53.8 per cent of drivers admitted to using a handheld phone while driving – up by around 3.4 per cent since the same question was posed in May 2009.

Likewise, the number who texted while driving was also up: just under 41 per cent of motorists admitted to sending text messages while on the move, though there was a significant gender imbalance.
43.3 per cent of women admitted to sending a quick – or not-so-quick – text while driving, compared to just under 39 per cent of men.

That imbalance was reversed in the number of motorists who conceded to going to sites like Facebook or Twitter when they were on the move: one in nine men, 11.2 per cent, said they went online compared to 6.5 per cent of women.

Only 73.5 per cent of drivers, however, would insist that they would never go online on a smartphone while driving – suggesting that the actual number of drivers going online could be higher.

Leitrim’s drivers were the most likely to text while driving, while Dubliners were the most likely to surf-and-drive.

“When you use a mobile phone while driving you risk the safety of yourself and others,” the AA’s John Farrell said. “You could also be deemed guilty of contributory negligence by your motor insurance provider which could affect your claim in the event of a crash.”