THE true number of road accidents caused by misuse of mobile phones is likely to be much higher than the industry believes, according to David Thacker, operations director of accident management company AutoManagement.

Thacker says that because drivers could incriminate themselves by admitting they were on the phone, such facts are hardly ever included on insurance claim forms. He added: 'It is very difficult to prove that the driver of a vehicle which has been involved in an accident with one of the cars for which we care was using a phone. You really need a cast iron witness who could see into the car clearly while it was on the move.'