If you're driving while talking on your mobile phone, you're just as likely to be risking your right to a cheap car insurance deal as if you were drunk behind the wheel, according to the latest research.
A recent study by a US university claims using a hand-held phone while driving has the same effect on concentration and performance as being over the legal limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
Researchers from the University of Utah wrote, "Impairments associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while drunk.
"Neither accident rates, nor reaction times to vehicles braking in front of the participant, nor recovery of lost speed following braking differed significantly."
A spokesman from Hoot Car Insurance Services, the specialist providers of young driver car insurance, commented on the research, saying, "Drink-driving not only wrecks lives, but will also destroy your chance of getting a cheap car insurance deal.
"Using your mobile phone, it seems, is just as dangerous."