Drivers talking on hands-free mobile phones are just as dangerous as those holding phones, a Government study has found.
Drivers who use earpieces or speakers still have slow reaction times and are likely to miss hazards and signs, according to the research.
Using a hand-held phone while driving is punishable by a £60 frine and three penalty points.
But the report, carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory, said that this could encourage drivers to think hands-free kits were safe.
It said that hands-free phones may also have to be banned and suggested that employers tell staff not to use any phone while driving for work.
The report concluded: “This study deomonstrates that driving and talking is cognitively demanding and results in poorer driving performance.
“Talking on a hands-free phone while driving can result in poor decision making.”
Recent studies in Australia and the US also found that hands-free phones were no safer than hand-held phones.
A study by the University of Utah found that driving while using any type of phone was as bad as drink-driving.
