THE Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is launching an international research programme to provide a clear guide to the dangers of distractions motorists face while driving. The programme will amass research from throughout the world to create a guide to the risk of different activities from smoking, eating and drinking, to reading maps and using mobile phones, marked on a 10-point risk scale.

RoSPA's research comes after police in Hampshire and Wiltshire warned they would prosecute drivers who eat and drink at the wheel. One driver is being prosecuted for taking a sip of water at a red traffic light. RoSPA recommends motorists do nothing which could distract them from driving.