The UK Government has announced a crackdown on careless driving by implementing new on-the-spot fines for motorists on Britain's motorways. New research from Gocompare.com found that 72 per cent of drivers admit to multitasking whilst driving at the wheel of their car. Around a third (31 per cent) of drivers have admitted to speaking on their phone without the use of a hands-free kit, while another 30 per cent confessed to reading text messages whilst driving. However, these offences are soon to become part of new measures that will result in increased fines of £100 on-the-spot, as well as points on driving licences. When it comes to multitasking at the wheel, the age group most likely to be distracted were the 25-34 year-olds. Almost half (48 per cent) of 25-34 year-olds surveyed admitted to reading and sending texts at the wheel, with 54 per cent saying they had chatted on the phone in the car without a hands-free kit. One-in-three admitted to checking emails and one-in-five owned up to even writing emails on the move. The top five bad habits among UK drivers at the wheel are: ´ Eating - 69% ´ Smoking - 34% ´ Speaking on the phone while holding it - 31% ´ Reading a text message - 30% ´ Using a smartphone for directions - 23% Scott Kelly, head of motor at Gocompare.com, said: 'There's a considerable difference between bad habits behind the wheel and illegal ones. 'While smoking or eating on the road may just be ill-advised activities, finishing off a report, sending emails or making a call whilst driving could land you in financial and legal trouble. 'We all feel like sometimes there aren't enough hours in the day, and mobile technology means that we often end up working out of hours or on the hoof. 'But trying to multitask while driving is dangerous and, if you're caught, a conviction could see you face fines, points on your licence, higher insurance premiums and even a driving ban, which could affect your employment. It's ironic that people who can't switch off from work face the possibility of losing their job because of it.î