IPods, MP3 players and mobile phones putting UK drivers' lives at risk

London, Sep 21(ANI): British road safety campaigners will on Tuesday tell an international conference being organized in London that iPods, MP3 players and mobile phones are distracting motorists, putting lives at risk.

Tune into Traffic, an online group born after The United Nations World Youth Assembly for Road Safety, claims that hand-held devices are leading to drivers taking their eyes and ears off the road and becoming less aware of pedestrians and other drivers.

According to their statistics, more young and newly qualified drivers are being killed in Britain than 15 years ago.

It also revealed that around 16 percent more motorists aged 16-19 die today than in the mid 1990s.

"Road traffic collisions are the biggest cause of death among young people and, from our own observations and what young people are telling us, the distraction posed by these devices is huge," The Telegraph quoted Manpreet Darroch, who launched Tune into Traffic in 2008, as saying.

Campaigners would also tell the World Safety Conference that young drivers should be banned from driving during night-time. (ANI)