A huge number of van drivers are risking being hit with a £200 fine and six points on their licence for failing to use hands-free tech, researched has revealed.
A survey of 1,000 van drivers in the UK by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles found just 41 per cent use handsfree or Bluetooth connectivity in their vehicles — despite making an average of seven calls a day.
On top of making calls, 17 per cent admitted to using their phone for other reasons while driving, such as texting, checking emails or browsing social media.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles says drivers in London, Yorkshire and the Humber as well as the North East are most likely to use the tech, with Scottish van drivers twice as likely to avoid it.
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Claire English, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ head of fleet, said: “Mobile phone use behind the wheel is a topic that we’ve been monitoring for the past couple of years and the recent statistics show it is still a huge safety problem on UK roads. Despite carrying a hefty punishment, it lacks the taboo of other offences such as drink-driving and this needs to change.
“As part of our Working With You promise, we’re committed to improving safety on UK roads for both our customers and other road users, always ensuring we provide the right equipment for the job, for example offering autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and a handsfree kit as standard across the range.”
