[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/time-leave-phone-alone\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/time-leave-phone-alone\/","headline":"Time to leave the phone alone","name":"Time to leave the phone alone","description":"Confession time: do you ever fiddle with your phone whilst driving? Time to stop If the answer is \u2018yes\u2019, then you\u2019re not alone. Almost three-quarters of motorists say they do the same, and although more than 120,000 drivers were caught out in 2014, only 17,000 were prosecuted; that\u2019s less than one in seven. The temptation to have a cheeky check on Twitter or fire off a quick WhatsApp message is apparently too great, with 95 per cent of motorists saying […]","datePublished":"2016-08-03","dateModified":"2016-08-04","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/resize-1-4.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/resize-1-4.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/time-leave-phone-alone\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":343,"keywords":["driving","motors.co.uk","safety","Time to stop"],"articleBody":"Confession time: do you ever fiddle with your phone whilst driving?Time to stopIf the answer is \u2018yes\u2019, then you\u2019re not alone. Almost three-quarters of motorists say they do the same, and although more than 120,000 drivers were caught out in 2014, only 17,000 were prosecuted; that\u2019s less than one in seven.The temptation to have a cheeky check on Twitter or fire off a quick WhatsApp message is apparently too great, with 95 per cent of motorists saying they spot fellow drivers blatantly looking at their phone when sat in traffic, despite laws forbidding mobile phone use from behind the wheel being in place since 2003.\u2018Phone-driving\u2019 played a factor in 3,611 accidents between 2009-14, and online vehicle marketplace Motors.co.uk is on a mission to change attitudes with its new online test.The \u2018Time to STOP\u2019 online challenge uses dash-cam clips of a car driving along a typical UK road and tests how quick users can hit their keyboard\u2019s space bar when prompted by a \u2018stop\u2019 road sign.The test assesses reactions by telling them how long they took to press space and where they fit in the spectrum of driver reactions.As you can see, my reactions were pretty sharp, hitting space in less than half a second. \u2018Not too shabby\u2019 indeed.After the second request to \u2018stop\u2019, things get real and any users who entered their mobile number before the test will receive a call whilst travelling down the third road.If they answer the call, it\u2019s \u2018game over, literally\u2019, with the in-game player meeting a presumably grisly end. Ignore the call and you join an elite rank of drivers who resisted temptation and stayed focused on the road ahead – apparently, only one in five drivers do this.Take the challenge for yourself at motors.co.uk\/time-to-stop when you\u2019re next at a computer.Motors.co.uk has also started a petition calling on the government to run a campaign, similar to anti-drink-drive adverts, in a bid to wake motorists up to the potentially fatal consequences of phone-driving."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Time to leave the phone alone","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/time-leave-phone-alone\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]