Research by the Carphone Warehouse has revealed that ladies are less likely than men to break the law by using a hand-held mobile phone while driving.
The results of the study showed that just over a quarter of women (26%) admitted talking on a hand-held mobile while behind the wheel, compared to almost half of male drivers (43%).
This finding is typical of ladies, who are more law-abiding than men on average. It is partly due to this that car insurance for women is so cheap.
New legislation is due to be introduced in 2007 which will mean the offence of driving while using a hand-held mobile will be treated more seriously. Motorists caught doing this will face 3 penalty points on their licence as well as a fine of £60.
The Carphone Warehouse study also looked at how drivers will react to the new penalties. 82% of ladies said that the threat of having points on their licence would discourage them from using a hand-held mobile phone. Just 66% of men, in comparison, would be deterred.
Andrew Harrison of the Carphone Warehouse said: "It is our responsibility to encourage customers and employees to drive safely. It is imperative that we reduce the number of people currently driving and holding a mobile phone."
Lee-Anne Bass, a ladies' motor insurance specialist at CoverGirl Car Insurance Services, said: "These findings certainly bode well for female drivers. It seems that not many ladies will be risking their cheap car insurance for women by getting penalty points for this offence."