Printer friendly page
Minister and RoSPA call on drivers to switch off mobiles
A small minority of drivers are continuing to endanger themselves and other road users by using hand-held mobile phones while they are driving, according to new figures released last week by the road safety minister, Stephen Ladyman (pictured).
In a recent DfT survey, 1.5% of car drivers and 2.4% of lorry and van drivers were spotted using hand held phones.
Stephen Ladyman said: "Using a mobile phone while you're driving makes you four times more likely to have an accident, and it's a shame that a small minority of drivers are still using hand held phones. The police are on the road looking out for drivers using phones and they do prosecute those they catch.
"The Road Safety Bill currently going through Parliament will mean that in future people using a hand held phone will get a £60 fine and three points on their licence. But I don't want people to be caught and risk losing their licences, I want them to stop using their phones while they drive."
RoSPA described the figures as 'a warning to all fleet bosses to ensure they had clear policies in place to manage the problem'.
Charles Davis , RoSPA head of driver and fleet solutions, said: "It may only be a small percentage but it still means that thousands of drivers are flouting the law and risking killing someone every day.
"With 2.5 million people driving as part of their job, there is a good chance that many of those breaking the law are at work at the time. This is a timely reminder that companies need to have policies in place banning the use of mobiles while driving for work, and checking that those policies are being followed by employees.
"If employers provide a phone they have a responsibility in law to ensure that it is used safely. No mobile while mobile! is the message employers need to be promoting," Mr Davis concluded.
RoSPA has produced a free leaflet for employers needing help with mobile phone policies, which is available at www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/workmobiles.pdf
For the full DfT press release go to: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2005_0097
