Despite the threat of a hefty on-the-spot fine, as well as the possibility of higher car insurance premiums, a significant proportion of UK drivers continue to ignore the law banning the use of a mobile phone while behind the wheel.
Coming soon after Harriet Harman appeared in court after being caught on her handset while driving, research carried out by Sainsburys Car Insurance has revealed that some 12 per cent of motorists have used their phones while driving in the past month alone.
What's more, 11 per cent of those motorists polled by the insurer admitted to having sent text messages while behind the wheel, despite the fact that this required them to take their eyes of the road and therefore significantly increased the odds of them being involved in an accident .
Commenting on the findings, Ben Tyte, the manager of car insurance at Sainsbury's, said: "We would urge motorists to give their driving their full attention and not be tempted to engage in anything that could distract them.
"The possible consequences of not concentrating when on the roads are very serious indeed, not just for the driver but other road users, passengers and pedestrians.
Drivers caught on their mobile phones face fines of £60, which compare favourably with the £180,000 speeding fine handed down to a Ferrari driver in Switzerland this week.




