RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
July 18, 2002
REPORT SHOWS BOSSES IGNORE MOBILE PHONE ROAD DANGERS
The Risk of Using a Mobile Phone Whilst Driving - download here
A new report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents underlines the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving and shows many bosses are ignoring the threat to their employees.
It comes as fresh efforts will be made in the House of Commons on Friday (July 19) to ban drivers from using hand-held mobiles while on the move.
Worryingly the RoSPA report reveals that many employers are still not taking the issue seriously and are leaving the decision about using phones while driving to individual employees.
The study “The Risk of Using a Mobile Phone While Driving” draws together all the existing evidence on the dangers of motorists using hand-held and hands-free phones. Both are shown to be a significant distraction and make drivers more likely to have accidents.
More than 150 companies were asked if they had policies on the use of mobile phones in vehicles, but only 19 bothered to reply. Of the 15 who had policies, only four had a complete ban on the use of mobiles while on the move. Most of the others allowed the use of hands-free kit, but generally only for short incoming calls or messages.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said: “The problem is that a short call can turn into a long one and it only takes a second for an accident to happen. We want to see employers introducing clear policies to stop their workers using mobile phones at the wheel, whether hand-held or hands free. They should do this as part of their policies to manage occupational road risk and under their responsibilities to keep their employees safe.”
The report also calls for wider education campaigns about the dangers of using mobile phones at the wheel and for accidents involving mobiles to be recorded officially so that accurate data is available about the problem.
RoSPA knows of at least 19 deaths on Britain’s roads which have been directly linked to mobiles, but fears this may be the tip of the iceberg. The Society says a law is needed to make it clear to motorists that it is wrong to use a mobile while driving. The report shows that at least 35 countries have introduced legislation to tackle the problem.
A Bill by Janet Anderson, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, calling for a ban on hand-held phones while driving, will have its second reading on Friday and is supported by RoSPA.
