More than 86% of UK motorists think distraction caused by mobile phones has become worse in the last three years, according to an IAM Roadsmart survey.

IAM Roadsmart’s Safety Culture Survey was produced for the first time last year, and looks at UK motorists’ safety attitudes and behaviour.

This year the survey asked about the potential car driving problems faced by motorists compared to three years ago,  perceived threats to personal safety whilst driving, support for potential new regulations  and many other aspects of motoring life in the 2010’s.

Congestion ranked as the second worsening problem with 81% of respondents feeling the effects of the increasing number of vehicles on our roads. 

Of the 2,000 UK drivers surveyed, nearly three quarters (72%) believed aggressive driving had worsened over the last three years, with more than 60% reporting the same for drug-driving.

Huge numbers of UK drivers believe the dangers of mobile phones and technology are bigger threats than any other factor on the roads.

Some 94% saw drivers checking or updating social media as a threat to their personal safety, while 93% said that was the case for drivers text messaging or e-mailing, and for 91% it was the case for drivers talking on mobile phones.

This was higher than the perceived threat from drink and drug driving. 89% of those surveyed felt people driving after drinking alcohol was a threat to their safety compared to 88% who felt that about those who took illegal drugs and then drove.

Almost all (97%) of those surveyed strongly supported a law outlawing reading, typing, or sending a text message or email while driving; with 86% strongly supported the regulation of in car technology to minimise the distraction to drivers.