Twenty-eight per cent of motorists in Bahrain admitted to texting and using their phone while driving, according to a new study.

The research was conducted by civil engineering students Ali Khalaf, Fadhel Abbas, Abdulla Al Musalli and Mahran Anwar as part of their Bahrain University graduation project, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

According to international studies, texting drivers are 23 times more likely to have an accident.

Motorists using their mobile phones to make calls are four times more likely to have crashes or near misses.

The four students showcased their results at a graduation exhibition and competition at the College of Engineering.

Transportation and Roads Studies Centre director Dr Abdulrahman Janahi supervised the project.

Their study revealed a tangible rise in mobile phone use on highways, raising the risk of crashes. However, drivers tend to text more at traffic lights.

The study which surveyed 1,000 motorists revealed youngsters are more likely to text and drive than older drivers.

Drivers aged 18 to 30 were more likely to use their phones for texting or making calls.

The survey also revealed that 30 per cent of motorists using their phones for texting or making calls had a history of traffic accidents due to distraction.

However, 75 per cent of motorists surveyed recognised the danger of texting while driving.

In addition, 75 per cent of motorists who did not use a safety belt admitted to texting and driving, despite being aware of the danger. - TradeArabia News Service