A car insurance company has revealed that using hands-free mobile phone kits while driving could make a car insurance claim more likely.

A study found that more than 70% of motorists thought that calls made or received using such technology are a distraction.

Despite the number of people concerned about the safety of having phone conversations while behind the wheel, it is thought that around 16 million drivers still frequently use hands-free equipment.

Mike Pickardm head of risk and underwriting at the insurance firm, suggested that motorists who want to remain safe should turn off their phones before switching on their engine.

"Any distraction that may compromise the concentration of motorists should be avoided as motorists need to have full control of their vehicle at all times,” he said.

Fresh worries over hands-free tools

It has also been discovered by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) that when a driver uses a hand-free mobile phone set, their reaction times, such as the time taken to apply the brakes or steer away from danger are 30% lower than if they were driving over the legal alcohol limit.

When travelling at 70 mph the affect on reaction time caused by the hands-free mobile conversation means that the vehicle travels 26ft further than one driven under ‘normal conditions’  before the motorist is fully engaged and able to take the correct action.

In contrast, figures show that driving slightly over the legal alcohol requirement would travel just 13ft further than someone driving under normal circumstances before they responded. This is shockingly half the distance of the hands-free mobile phone using driver.

In 2007, 2,986 motorists were prosecuted for failing to have proper control of their vehicle while being distracted by such technology.

Safer drivers means safer roads

The findings were revealed just days after the Government – backed ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign, after RoadSafe urged calls for a ban on such car equipment.

The reform was prompted after a female driver was convicted of careless driving following a road crash in which another motorist was killed. The woman as a result, was fined £2,000 and banned from driving for one year. It was found that she was using a hands-free phone at the time of the collision.

Despite a lack of awareness on the full dangers of such technology, 52% of drivers said they would support banning the use of hands-free phones.

Maggie Game, head of a car insurance company said: “Given that drink driving was responsible for 14,480 casualties, including 460 deaths, on the road in 2007, the potential for casualties from mobile phone use is frightening.

“Whilst serious injuries and death on the road as a result of drink driving are decreasing, the potential for mobile phones to be a contributory factor in serious road accidents can only increase.”