3 in 10 drivers send texts while at the wheel

London, Sept 28 (ANI): A new survey has revealed that nearly 30 percent drivers send text messages while at the wheel and 8 percent do text and drive once a week.

The findings by road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line is based on responses from 841 drivers.

The poll follows a recent Ofcom report, which warned of increased levels of smartphone addiction in the UK by users who are unable to go long without checking their phone.

Brake and Direct Line said other research had shown that texting at the wheel can make drivers 23 times more likely to cause a crash and that using a phone to email or surf the web also causes serious distractions.

"People who text, use the web or social networking when driving are taking enormous risks with their own and other people's lives. This kind of irresponsible behaviour is illegal and it kills, so there should be no excuses," the Daily Express quoted Brake campaigns director Julie Townsend as saying.

"We are concerned that the increasing uptake of this technology could lead to more crashes and casualties caused by distracted drivers," he added. (ANI)