Drivers Driven To Distraction

Legislation against the use of mobile phones whilst driving was introduced on December 1st 2003 and drivers caught driving while using their phones received a ?30 fine.

From the 27th of February 2007 the Road Safety Act brought in harsher penalties for perpetrators of this offence. Offenders will face a higher on the spot fine of ?60 and 3 penalty points being added to their licence.

With fleet drivers relying more and more on constant mobile phone communication the Lancashire Road Safety Group emphasises the need for safe use of phones and urges companies to insist that phones are not used at any time by their drivers whilst on the road. Whether phone calls are to liaise with clients or with head office the danger still persists.

Neil Cunliffe, Lancashire Road Safety Group Manager, said ?research shows you are four times more likely to have a crash when using a mobile phone whilst driving, than when not using a phone. Drivers who continue to ignore the law are risking their lives, their passengers? lives and the lives of other road users. Higher penalties will hopefully work to reduce the number of road casualties in Lancashire and make Lancashire a safer place to travel.?

Although ?Hands-free kits are seen as a safer way to talk whilst driving, drivers need to remember that the person on the other end of the line can?t see what is happening around you and can?t react in the same way as a passenger sitting with the driver. The only way to stay safe is to turn your phone off while driving and stop in a safe place when you have to use it.?

Deployment urges all drivers to heed the advice and to avoid using a mobile phone whilst driving.