Major concern is being raised in the UK with regard to future road safety following the publishing of a report commissioned by autoparts specialist 3564 Halfords. The survey says that 41% of drivers questioned have taken a phone call while driving, with some 29% admitting to making at least one call while driving in the past year. This compares with 31% and 22% respectively in a survey undertaken 12 months previously. Those drivers admitting to checking texts rose by 25%, while the proportion checking social networking sites has doubled. Drivers are fined €71.24 (£60) if found to be using cellphones while driving under legislation introduced in February 2007. Meanwhile concern has also been raised worldwide following the publishing of a controversial report in the US. This claims that drivers involved in secondary activities while at the wheel may be safer than those who do not. According to the report, those engaged in secondary activities such as changing radio stations or talking on the cellphone are less likely to fall asleep at the wheel. This report has been widely criticised by other road safety specialists however, who say that its findings regarding cellphones in particular run entirely counter to every other existing piece of research carried out so far.
