The worst driving habit on the UK's roads is steering with one hand while using a mobile phone, according to a survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).
The IAM asked 400 members about their top driving gripes and using a hand held mobile was the most annoying habit (34 per cent), closely followed by lane-hoggers at 33 per cent.
Chief executive Christopher Bullock said: "We did this survey two years ago and it is a sad reflection on the attitude of drivers that mobile phone abuse has moved up the list of driver irritants.
"We know the police act when they see this offence being committed. But it often seems to the responsible motorists that these one-armed merchants are getting away with it.
"The IAM has, until now, resisted calls for special legislation to deal with drivers using hand-held phones, arguing there are already sufficient powers.
"But we should be gathering hard data about how many crashes are caused by drivers on hand-held phones."
Sergeant Mark Geer, of Sussex Police Traffic Division, said: "It is totally unacceptable to use a mobile while driving and banned by rule 127 of the Highway code.
"We are going to have a clampdown on people driving and using their phones starting this week.
"Every person observed by police using their phone will be prosecuted.
"A driver using a mobile phone can face a fixed-penalty fine of £30 or go to court for the offence of failing to have proper control."
An RAC spokesman said: "We would advise any motorist never to use a hand-held phone while driving.
"If you have a mobile phone, we advise you turn it off in your car."
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