Using a smartphone while behind the wheel 'more dangerous than drink driving'

Date: 2/3/2012

Using a smartphone while behind the wheel is more dangerous than drink driving or smoking cannabis before heading out on the road.

This is according to new research from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), which found eight per cent of motorists send emails or access social networking sites when driving.

TRL's car driving simulator DigiCar was used to conduct the study and it found reaction times slowed by 38 per cent among those using their smartphones.

Furthermore, they did not respond as quickly when the car in front of them changed speed, while many were unable to keep a central lane position.

IAM Chief Executive Simon Best said: "If you're taking your hand off the wheel to use the phone, reading the phone display and thinking about your messages, then you're simply not concentrating on driving."

He added that this needs to be promoted as being socially unacceptable.

This comes after a report from the British Medical Journal showed drivers double their risk of having an accident after smoking cannabis.

Posted by Sarah Bailey