silicon survey: Readers back mobile car ban

NEWS A government ban on the use of mobile phones while driving has been given a firm thumbs up by silicon.com readers. The overwhelming majority (78 per cent) of those who completed a silicon.com survey said talking into a mobile phone handset held to the ear, with one hand on the wheel should be made illegal. But at the same time most readers - 83 per cent - were against a complete in-car mobile ban that would even outlaw the use of hands free kits. In fact, while 22 per cent of respondents virtuously claimed to never use a mobile while driving, almost half do use hands free kits on the road and 15 per cent of silicon.com readers admitted to driving with a mobile clamped to their ear. Despite the fact the government claims talking on mobiles while driving can lead to serious accidents, respondents to the survey took a lenient view towards punishment, with most favouring a few points on drivers' licences or a small fine of up to £250. The option of landing handheld-happy drivers with larger fines of up to £2,000 was preferred by a smaller but still significant proportion of readers but less than three per cent thought the offence should result in time spent behind bars. A separate survey by health and safety consultants Croner showed that the nation was split over the issue of hands free mobiles in cars, with only 45 per cent of people supporting their use. silicon.com surveyed 2,325 readers between 9 July and 15 July.