Driven to Distraction The Courier investigates mobile phone use at the wheel

It is a criminal activity linked with deaths and injuries across the country but there is no sign of the brakes being put on mobile phone use while driving.

In our latest investigation, we have taken to the roads to find out who is still texting and calling from behind the wheel.

Over the course of just three days we witnessed dozens of motorists openly flouting the law.

Drivers on some of Courier country’s busiest and most dangerous roads, including the notorious A9, were photographed on their phones.

We reveal the extent of the problem across the country and hear from those tasked with trying to tackle it.

We look at proposals to double the penalties in a bid to drive the message home once and for all and speak to the road campaigners who are calling for a total ban on the use of hands-free systems.

We also used state-of-the-art technology to see for ourselves how dangerous simply chatting to a friend or colleague can be.

And we examine the ghoulish phenomenon of “digital rubberneckers” where drivers take footage and pictures of road accidents and post them online.

For the first part of our special investigation, see Wednesday’s Courier or try our digital edition.