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Motorists are becoming more
worried about other drivers using
their phones.
Road safety is invariably a major
concern in the Report on Motoring,
but
this year’s research has identified
a further significant increase in the
number of motorists who are worried
about other drivers using handheld
mobile phones
to make calls or
check messages and notifications.
More than two-fifths of those
questioned
(41%)
said this was one
of their biggest concerns, a sharp
rise on the
34%
recorded in 2015.
Worryingly, a significant minority
of motorists
(31%)
admit to having
used a handheld phone to make
or receive calls while driving at
some point in the past 12 months.
Meanwhile,
a fifth of drivers (20%)
think it is safe to text or check
social media while they are sitting
in stationary traffic
, despite this
being against the law.
Falling fuel prices have reduced the
financial pressures on motorists.
Falls in petrol and diesel prices in
2015 and the early months of 2016
mean that most motorists now
face lower vehicle running costs.
Only 7% of drivers say fuel prices
are their top concern this year,
down from
10%
12 months ago.
However, the Report also found
that there has been little change in
overall expenditure on fuel, which
suggests that many motorists are
simply taking advantage of lower
forecourt prices to use their cars
more.
Concern about the cost of
insurance has increased and is now
number one for 7% of motorists
.
Indeed, the cost of insurance is
now a greater financial concern
than the cost of fuel.
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Executive summary