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Mobile menace: a third of drivers text at the wheel

research shows many at risk of SMS driver danger

UK - November 09, 2009

British drivers are flouting the law when it comes to using their mobile phones whilst out on the road.

A study by mobile navigation software expert Sygic found that almost a third (32%) of drivers confessed to texting whilst in their cars during the past month. This is despite the fact that over 90 per cent know it is illegal and that they are risking a three-point penalty on their licence and
a fine.

Not only that but it puts them and other road users at risk. Research by the RAC Foundation found that texting whilst driving can slow down reaction times by as much as 35 per cent. And RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, believes it makes them four times more likely to crash, injure or kill themselves and/or others.

Yet, despite the law prohibiting drivers from using handheld mobile devices whilst driving coming into force in December 2003, over one fifth of cars still don’t have the necessary equipment for hands-free communications fitted. Sygic’s research found that 22 per cent didn’t have a mobile phone cradle or built-in hands-free kit in their car or Bluetooth equipment for use with their device.

Executive quote

“It’s shocking that almost six years on car owners are still breaking the law and using their phones at the wheel,” said Anna Hurbanic, Global PR Manager at Sygic. “There is plenty of equipment on the market which is designed to improve safety so drivers can focus on the road and not on their phone.”

About the company

About Sygic (www.sygic.com)
Sygic develops and sells turn-by-turn voice guided GPS navigation for a wide range of mobile devices. Sygic delivers its GPS software worldwide in more than 20 languages, including Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, Malay, Greece, Russian and nearly all European languages, working together with map providers to support maps for all regions. Sygic cooperates strongly with leading PND, phone and PMP manufactures worldwide to bring the latest technology to the market. Sygic supports major OS’s: Windows Mobile, Symbian, iPhone, Linux, Android, and its applications have has been approved on more than 200 devices.

Sygic’s major competitive advantages are based on navigation experience from professionals: intuitive user interface, fast rendering and route calculation, low demand on processors and memory, automatic screen resolution adaptation, smart recognition and self-setting to keyboard or touch screen operation and above all the multiplatform engine, all this to make the application start quickly and run smoothly on any device.

The company was founded in 2004 with a vision to operate as a strong, technically oriented company in order to bring innovative products for the LBS/ Navigation market.

Sygic and the Sygic logo are registered trademarks of Sygic

Contact details

For further press information and photography please contact:
Patrick Hussey at LEWIS, the PR agency
Tel: +44 (0) 161 457 2050
Fax: +44 (0) 161 457 2051
Email: sygicuk@lewispr.com
Website: www.lewispr.com

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