Some 30 per cent of drivers admit to texting

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Stricter penalties for those using hand-held mobile phones while driving do not appear to have deterred people from texting at the wheel.

The tougher regime for offenders was introduced at the end of February and includes a doubling to £60 of the fixed-penalty fine.

But a new survey showed that more than half of motorists interviewed recently had seen another driver texting while behind the wheel.

And as many as 30 per cent confessed to texting themselves, according to the poll of more than 2,000 people by the www.Confused.com insurance search engine.

And 90 per cent had seen other drivers using a hands-held mobile while at the wheel.

Confused.com managing director Debra Williams said: The findings of this survey are shocking but, as every driver knows, it's often hard to ignore incoming messages and calls.

Appallingly, instead of pulling over, it seems that motorists are not merely answering calls but are also responding to text messages, taking their eyes off the road in the process.

It might only feel like a few seconds, but that's more than enough time to cause a major and possible multi-vehicle accident.''