In message , Michael Hopkins
writes

I am of the opinion that a number of high profile, well publiscised,
prosecutions for mobile phone use while driving would help to stamp it out.
I see people using non-handsfree mobiles while driving everyday.

It's not the numbers using mobiles while driving, but the numbers I see
having accidents as a result. I have a neighbour who demolished her own
garage door because she was actually using a mobile while reversing
(probably saying "I'm just coming down the drive now").

Just a few weeks ago a guy was waiting to turn left out of a side road,
looking for a gap, while yapping on his mobile. He decided he could just
about shoot out in front of me, which he did, accelerating hard. Too
late - he had been so busy on the phone that he had failed to notice the
traffic island immediately to his left, and with only one hand free and
concentration impaired, did not have time to steer past it.

Front tyre hit the kerb of the island at speed and exploded. Back wheel
did exactly the same and, judging from the angle of the wheel, he also
wrecked the axle and probably the suspension, too. New BMW. Such a
shame.

--
Paul Terry