'Put the phone away': Shocking number of drivers admit to regularly texting while driving Risk of collision four times higher if using a handheld mobile phone while driving Reporter: '); '); The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána are urging drivers to put their mobile phones away when driving as new research shows that 1 in 10 motorists admit to regularly texting while driving. The Driver Attitudes & Behaviour Survey 2020 also revealed that 9% of motorists admit to driving and talking on a handheld mobile phone and 9% of motorists regularly check mobile apps while behind the wheel. International research has found that you are four times more likely to crash if using a handheld phone while driving. Texting, using social media, or messaging increases the risk substantially. In fact, drivers spend up to 400% more time with their eyes off the road when text messaging than when not texting messaging.