Popular household item causes 15 percent of road accidents, expert warns

The provider has warned motorists of the most common distraction that on the roads, and it is most likely in their pocket every time they drive.

According to the company, a that were caused by distractions happened due to a motorist looking at or using a mobile phone.

Nick Ielpo, UK Country Manager at Prima, highlighted that even briefly using a phone behind the wheel can have .

He advised: "Anything that takes your eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, increases your .

"Stricter penalties have made some drivers think twice about using their phone while driving. But we can see that there's still a worrying number who don't see the danger or choose to ignore it."

Prima highlighted that, between 2018 and 2023, 15 percent of accidents taking place on the roads involved a driver using their phone to call someone, with a further 14 percent due to using a navigation app.

No matter what drivers are doing with it, the road safety charity Brake highlighted that using a phone behind the wheel makes them four times as likely to have a crash and slow down reaction times by 30 percent.

There is also a strong risk that insurance companies will refuse to pay out if a driver claims due to damage caused by looking at their phone.

Whilst many drivers are aware that they should not use their phones whilst on the move, Prima also highlighted that few motorists seem to be aware of the exact laws surrounding devices in cars.

According to the company's data, around a quarter of drivers thought it was fine to use their phones to select music whilst behind the wheel.

Shockingly, nine percent of Brits also thought that texting and other messaging services were not illegal to use whilst driving.

In reality, drivers who hold any electronic device whilst the engine of their vehicle is running are breaking the law, and therefore subject to some serious penalties.

Anyone found to be using a phone at the wheel of a vehicle can face £200 and six penalty points on their licence, running the risk of higher insurance prices and even a driving ban.

As a result, motorists should leave their phone in a place that will not distract them, such as a pocket or the glovebox, and mount it in a sturdy holder if they are using navigation services.