Call for Drivers to Switch Off Their Phones
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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 today by the Road Safety Minister, Stephen Ladyman.
Research for the Department for Transport has shown that, in the most recent survey, 1.5 per cent of car drivers and 2.4 per cent of lorry and van drivers were spotted using hand held phones.
Road Safety Minister 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 their hand held phones.
"Missing a call won't kill you, but a road accident might. I urge people to switch off their phones while they're driving to make the roads safer for us all. 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 3 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."
The findings on mobile phone use coincide with then release of the latest seat belt wearing rates. The seat belt survey has been running since 1988 and this shows a high and stable wearing rate of 93% for all drivers, 94% for all front seat passengers and 83% for all rear seat passengers.
As part of the THINK! initiative the Department for Transport runs targeted advertising campaigns on seatbelts and mobile phones. For further information please log on to www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
Research Material:
1. Copies of the full survey results may be downloaded from the TRL website at www.trl.co.uk. They were carried out in April 2005.
LF2096 Restraint Use by Car Occupants 2003 - 2005 LF2097 Mobile Phone Use by Drivers 2003 - 2005
2. It became an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, from 1 December 2003. At present offenders are liable for a £30 fixed penalty fine or a maximum fine of £1000 on conviction in court (maximum of £2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles or buses/coaches).
3. The Road Safety Bill is currently before Parliament. It is expected to become law later on next year.
4. Details of the number of road traffic offences are published annually by the Home Office. Figures for 2004 are not yet available but an informal survey of police forces by this Department indicated that over 50,000 fixed penalty notices were issued for the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving in England and Wales during 2004.
Research for the Department for Transport has shown that, in the most recent survey, 1.5 per cent of car drivers and 2.4 per cent of lorry and van drivers were spotted using hand held phones.
Road Safety Minister 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 their hand held phones.
"Missing a call won't kill you, but a road accident might. I urge people to switch off their phones while they're driving to make the roads safer for us all. 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 3 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."
The findings on mobile phone use coincide with then release of the latest seat belt wearing rates. The seat belt survey has been running since 1988 and this shows a high and stable wearing rate of 93% for all drivers, 94% for all front seat passengers and 83% for all rear seat passengers.
As part of the THINK! initiative the Department for Transport runs targeted advertising campaigns on seatbelts and mobile phones. For further information please log on to www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
Research Material:
1. Copies of the full survey results may be downloaded from the TRL website at www.trl.co.uk. They were carried out in April 2005.
LF2096 Restraint Use by Car Occupants 2003 - 2005 LF2097 Mobile Phone Use by Drivers 2003 - 2005
2. It became an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, from 1 December 2003. At present offenders are liable for a £30 fixed penalty fine or a maximum fine of £1000 on conviction in court (maximum of £2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles or buses/coaches).
3. The Road Safety Bill is currently before Parliament. It is expected to become law later on next year.
4. Details of the number of road traffic offences are published annually by the Home Office. Figures for 2004 are not yet available but an informal survey of police forces by this Department indicated that over 50,000 fixed penalty notices were issued for the offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving in England and Wales during 2004.
posted by Jon Fry at 11:33:00 PM
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