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Legislation was introduced in 2003 making it illegal to use a handheld mobile phone while driving or riding a motorcycle.
Drivers may be issued with a fixed penalty notice, resulting in three penalty
points on the driving licence and a fine of 100. If a case goes to court,
they face disqualification and a fine of up to 1,000.
The use of hands-free phones is permitted but a driver can still be stopped
if police believe they are distracted.
The DfT says the purpose of its surveys in South East England,
Manchester, Newcastle, Durham, Norfolk and Scotland was to "assess
compliance".
Observations were made of drivers of cars, vans, taxis, lorries, buses,
minibuses and coaches between 07:30-12:00 and 13:30-18:00 on
weekdays. Some locations were surveyed again at weekends.
The DfT said: "A distinction was made between drivers holding the phone to
their ear (indicating that the driver was receiving or making a call) or
holding it in their hand (indicating that the driver may have been receiving
or making a call, texting or reading a text, or using it for some other
interactive function)."
It acknowledged that "it was not possible for observers to determine what
the mobile phone was being used for".
However, it said the finding "suggests that most mobile phone usage whilst
driving was for the purposes of sending or receiving a text or using social
media rather than making a call".
'Interesting insight'
Among car drivers, 1.4% were found to be using a mobile.
Although 2.7% of van drivers were using a phone, most (1.9%) were holding
it to their ear rather than in their hand.
Only 1.2% of goods vehicles and lorry drivers were on a phone, with bus,
coach and minibus drivers having the lowest usage rate at 0.4%.
Officials spotted 1.7% of male drivers using a hand-held mobile phone,
compared to 1.3% of females.
The DfT said the proportion of car drivers in England observed using a
mobile was about the same as in 2009, when a previous survey was carried
out.
Transport minister Robert Goodwill said: "No phone-call is worth risking an
accident. This research shows that the problem isn't just drivers making
phone calls, it is their use of phones to text or use the internet.
"While this only provides a snapshot, it is an interesting insight that will
help inform future policy. We will keep further deterrent measures under
consideration."
A survey commissioned by ministers in Northern Ireland last year
suggested 1% of drivers were using a mobile. There has been no similar
research in Wales.