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[Fedster + 1,307]

If mobile phone use while driving is to be as socially unacceptable as drink-driving, much more effort must go into educating drivers about the risks'.

Misleading: Current laws give the impression hands-free use is safe

Date - 13th August 2019
By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle

5 Comments

 

A ban on drivers using mobile phones in hands-free mode should be considered despite the challenges for police and prosecutors to criminalise and enforce the offence, MPs have argued.

Current laws which only proscribe the use of devices being held by drivers gives the "misleading impression" that hands-free use is safe despite it creating "the same risks of a collision", a report published by the Commons Transport Select Committee warned.

The cross-party committee acknowledged that there would be practical difficulties but insisted "this does not mean that we should not do it".

It recommended that the Government should explore options for extending the current ban on hand-held mobiles and publish a public consultation on the issue by the end of 2019.

In 2017, there were 773 casualties on Britain's roads - including 43 deaths and 135 serious injuries - in crashes where a driver using a mobile was a contributory factor.

The committee said the number of people killed or seriously injured in such accidents has risen steadily since 2011 but the rate of enforcement of the law regarding phone use has plunged by more than two-thirds since the same year.

Since March 2017, motorists caught using a hand-held phone have faced incurring six points on their licence and a £200 fine - up from the previous penalty of three points and £100.

The MPs urged the Government to consider whether penalties should be increased further "to better reflect the serious risks created by drivers committing this offence".

Labour MP Lilian Greenwood, who chairs the committee, said: "Despite the real risk of catastrophic consequences for themselves, their passengers and other road users, far too many drivers continue to break the law by using hand-held mobile phones.

"If mobile phone use while driving is to become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving, much more effort needs to go into educating drivers about the risks and consequences of using a phone behind the wheel.

"Offenders also need to know there is a credible risk of being caught, and that there are serious consequences for being caught.

"There is also a misleading impression that hands-free use is safe. The reality is that any use of a phone distracts from a driver's ability to pay full attention and the Government should consider extending the ban to reflect this."

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: "We support the committee's call for the Government to look more closely at the effectiveness of the increase of the penalties in 2017, and key to this is whether enforcement is adequate and whether the police have sufficient resources and technology to be able to crack down on this scourge."

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[BlueBob + 701]

Great idea, they couldn’t get and keep the hands free regs current - hence the recent results  of using a video camera / phone whilst driving.  How on earth are they going to phrase a law against talking to yourself in a vehicle- oops, I mean talking on a hands- free Bluetooth built in phone system?

Edited August 13, 2019 by BlueBob

[skydiver + 1,099]

17 minutes ago, BlueBob said:

Great idea, they couldn’t get and keep the hands free regs current - hence the recent results  of using a video camera / phone whilst driving.  How on earth are they going to phrase a law against talking to yourself in a vehicle- oops, I mean talking on a hands- free Bluetooth built in phone system?

And how are we going to enforce it when we currently rely on spotting mobiles being used by drivers.  Hands free kind of detracts from that tactic. Also what will any law mean for radios in police cars?

[David + 4,981]

Another dubious idea with no understanding how it's going to be backed up (although I am not against it in principle).

Since on a daily basis I can count any number of drivers continuing to use devices in their hand at the wheel anyway, what would be the point in trying to impose a new law when the police are unable to impose the existing one? 

[BlueBob + 701]

1 hour ago, skydiver said:

And how are we going to enforce it when we currently rely on spotting mobiles being used by drivers.  Hands free kind of detracts from that tactic. Also what will any law mean for radios in police cars?

Unless they also change the frequency, no impact on use of radios - police or otherwise.  

[Zulu 22 + 4,633]

Unenforceable, and what about listening to radio programs, singing along.

[Beaker 817]

11 minutes ago, BlueBob said:

Unless they also change the frequency, no impact on use of radios - police or otherwise.  

ESN will bring them in to the same legislation.  They're just a mobile phone with a PTT.  

[Techie1 + 2,024]

Will they also ban partners, parents and children, as their constant chatter can be just as distracting?

[Hyphen + 693]

I saw this discussed on the news earlier. This is the most stupid idea I have heard. Not only that, it is naive at best to think it could ever be effectively enforced.

@Techie1 I totally agree, the only logical thing would be to ensure vehicles only have a driver in them and no passengers. Let’s ban car radios too, and while we are at it let’s ban soft drinks/coffees or food Incase they distract the driver...I’m sure people get the point.

Hopefully this is quickly kicked in to the long grass.

[Techie1 + 2,024]

Ban shift work too. 

[Radman + 2,165]

Smoking in cars all over again. 

Unenforceable. 

[Beaker 817]

16 minutes ago, Radman said:

Smoking in cars all over again. 

Unenforceable. 

I like the intention, but the execution isn't really practical.  Unless you catch someone actually smoking with a kid in the car you're on a road to nothing.  Though the confusion some people have over vapes is irritating. 

[Cuddles 5,413]

On 13/08/2019 at 20:08, Techie1 said:

Will they also ban partners, parents and children, as their constant chatter can be just as distracting?

Hopefully.

[SD + 701]

On 13/08/2019 at 19:52, BlueBob said:

Unless they also change the frequency, no impact on use of radios - police or otherwise.  

It should (to make it legal) as we shouldn’t be using them whilst driving either. There no exception for police.

[Buck + 293]

On 13/08/2019 at 20:04, Beaker said:

ESN will bring them in to the same legislation.  They're just a mobile phone with a PTT.  

Whilst this is technically true, the current radios are not exempt as it is. They are capable of making a phone call therefore are covered by existing legislation already. It's one of the reasons why pursuits *should* always be called using the car set.

17 hours ago, SD said:

It should (to make it legal) as we shouldn’t be using them whilst driving either. There no exception for police.

Exactly.