People who use a mobile phone while driving are four times more likely to have an accident.

What's more, the UK Government is spending £250,000 on an ad campaign starting tomorrow in which it will tell you in no uncertain terms that using a mobile while driving is a strict no-no.

According to the Government spin machine, drivers get distracted when they use a phone increasing the chances of an accident.

Said Road Safety Minister David Jamieson: "Even the most careful of drivers will be distracted by a phone call or text message, and that will affect their concentration and anticipation."

The advice from the man from the ministry is to use voicemail - or pull over and stop before taking a call. If you can't do either, then just ignore the call.

"Missing a call won't kill you," said Mr Jamieson, "an accident quite possibly could."

In March, boffins at the Transport Research Laboratory in Berkshire found that using a mobile phone while driving was more dangerous than being drunk behind the wheel.

They found that driving is impaired more by using a mobile phone than by being over the legal alcohol limit. ®

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