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By Colin Fernandez
Last updated at 2:53 AM on 22nd September 2008


Many may not know they have done anything wrong, while others simply might not care.

But the average person breaks the law at least once a day, a survey has found.

Speeding, using a mobile phone while driving and dropping litter top the list of rules and regulations regularly flouted.

Other laws often broken are eating while driving, parking on pavements and not wearing a seatbelt.

While some of these crimes can have fatal consequences, 58 per cent say they are not very important.

Another 20 per cent say that because everyone is up to it, they don't even see the actions as being illegal.

Only 5 per cent of Britons say they never break any laws .

John Sewell, spokesman for www.onepoll.com, which carried out the survey, said: 'It's worrying to think that so many people are breaking the law on a daily basis.

'And it's an even bigger concern that many aren't at all bothered about it.

'But these so-called minor crimes are committed so regularly they have almost become legal, which seems to be the reason so many people aren't fazed when they do break the law.'

Top 20 crimes (.jpg)

The poll of 5,000 men and women found the average person admitted to around seven offences a week.

It revealed speeding as the most common crime, with almost half - 46 per cent - admitting to driving over the speed limit.

Another 40 per cent confessed to texting or chatting on their mobile while behind the wheel.

A further 36 per cent said that they drop litter in the street, while around 35 per cent download music illegally.

More than a third have cycled on pavements instead of on the road, 29 per cent admitted eating and drinking while driving and a quarter have had sex in a public place.

Another 24 per cent say they park on a pavement to protect their car. Nineteen per cent take drugs and 18 per cent admitted to not wearing their seatbelt.

Other crimes committed on a daily basis include parking on double yellow lines, driving through red lights and carrying a weapon.

Mr Sewell added: 'Some of these crimes might seem petty but they were all made illegal for a reason.

'Most people wouldn't dream of stealing something from a shop but this research proves that some crimes have become normal everyday activities for many Brits.'

While #4 (Illegally Downloading Music) is not a crime in the US, as much as the RIAA would have us believe, I understand it is a crime in the UK. Of course, I don't think it is pursued in the same way speeding probably is.

I do think it's a shame that it is a crime in the UK. Of course, I also think it is a shame that #7 is a crime, but that's just me.

#17: not having a licence for television --
(huh, what's that all about?)

bytme, regarding #7 . . .
I wonder if that includes rather remote area of beaches (one of the popular places to have sex in the U.S.).
Heck, here in America, we even have a liquor drink named "sex on the beach"!

i think its much greater than twice a day. in my town there is a law still on the books that i don't think has ever been enforced that says its illegal to have an erection in public. and there are a ton of stupid laws that aren't enforced like that all over the place.

Other than speeding and running red lights, the rest of the list seems to be pointless attempts at criminalizing behavior that people were already doing every day.

6. Eating or drinking while driving -- And yet, autos still have cupholders.

15. Smoking in a public place -- For 400 years, you had to go to a public place to smoke because females would throw you out of your own house if you did it at home, as "ladies" did not smoke. Plus, the public places usually had beer.

400 years of male-dominated behavior that has surely become a genetic predisposition by now if Darwin is right. If Darwin was wrong, that leaves us with the distinct possibility that smoky blues bars are an integral part of God's master plan.

He also thinks it's okay to ride your bike on the pavement (which is apparently British for sidewalk) if there aren't any pedestrians using it at the time.

Totally idiotic list about half of which doesn't apply the US. There are states where 5 (cycling on pavement), 8 (parking partly on the pavement), 9 (taking drugs), 11 (having sex under the age of 16), 15 (smoking in public place), 19 (taking child out of school for holiday without head's permission), and 20 (carrying an offensive weapon) are totally legal.

#17: not having a licence for television --
(huh, what's that all about?)

pessimist: In the UK, in order to operate a television set in a home for watching regular programming, you must pay a license fee. The fee is about $300 a year, with the money used to fund the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Thanks, axxis.