RISKY overtaking and using mobile phones at the wheel are just some examples of motorists flouting the law.

A recent report by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line has revealed a worrying and widespread disregard for traffic laws among UK drivers with half admitting to breaking them.

Twenty five per cent of all drivers say they do so through not paying enough attention, while 23 per cent admit doing so deliberately because they think they can get away with it, or do not agree with the laws.

With the number of dedicated traffic police being reduced in recent years, Brake is concerned that the UK's roads are becoming increasingly lawless territory.

The charity is now calling on the new Government to reverse the trend and make traffic enforcement a national policing priority to drive down casualties and make our streets safer.

Other key findings in the report include UK drivers feeling more confident in the safety of their own driving than they were a decade ago; more than two thirds rate themselves safer than most other drivers. But the majority of drivers said there are more dangerous drivers than safe drivers on the UK roads.

Young drivers are more likely to rate their driving as safer than others. Three in five said they are 'much' safer. Considering young drivers are proportionately involved in more crashes than older motorists, it suggests overconfidence is putting them at risk. Young drivers are also more likely to rate the majority of other drivers as dangerous and to feel endangered by them suggesting they may be more aware of bad habits that become habitual for experienced drivers.

Most unsafe driving behaviour is down to distraction due to mobile technology, as well as tailgating, speeding and risky overtaking.

Driving instructor, Reg Cranage, who runs Reg Cranage School of Motoring in Ilkley and is a former chairman of Ilkley and District Road Safety committee, says he often sees people disregarding the two second rule and tailgating.

"They think it will not happen to them - 'I am safe, I can do anything' that is the attitude," says Reg.

He says young drivers are bound to be more confident as they have recently had lessons so all the information is fresh in their minds.

In relation to policing, the retired police officer doesn't believe it is the Government's problem. "It is a social problem. We have a police force who know exactly what is wanted and they should be left to it."

Reg would like to see more police on the street so they can catch the culprits in action. "I think more with time and who are able to watch," says Reg.

Chris Smith, who runs Low Moor based Driving Mode driving school and is a member of Bradford Driving Instructors Association, sees motorists cutting in front of other cars on a regular basis.

"People come the wrong way around mini roundabouts. Nobody sticks to the rules of the road and speed limits are an absolute waste of time."

Chris believes motorists think they can get away with it. "I am all for speed cameras and fines and parking fines," he adds.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, says: “As these figures make clear, law breaking on our roads is not just down to a minority but endemic. For whatever reason, many seem to feel they are beyond the law or that traffic laws are somehow optional. This represents a failure by government to ensure traffic policing is receiving adequate priority and to make clear the importance and legitimacy of traffic laws. Traffic laws exist to save lives and prevent injuries and terrible suffering. No matter how experienced or skilled a driver you believe yourself to be, you cannot break them safely."

She urges the next Government to make traffic policing a national policing priority as a strong deterrent against risky law-breaking on roads.

"We also need to see road safety given greater political priority, to set casualties falling once more and deliver safer streets for communities everywhere. That means reintroducing road casualty reduction targets, and working harder to win the ideological battle, to ensure everyone who gets behind the wheel understands why the rules exist and accepts their responsibility to abide by them and keep people safe.”

Rob Miles, director of motor at Direct Line, says: “Drivers continue to flout the rules of the road without realising the devastating impact their actions can have. Traffic laws are there for a reason and breaking them puts lives at risk."

Brake campaigns for stronger traffic enforcement through its crackdown campaign. For more information go to brake.org.uk/crackdown