RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

January 21, 2000
CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT GROWING MOBILE PHONE ROAD DANGER

More motorists will die unless they heed the warnings in a new Government advertising campaign about the dangers of using mobile phones while driving, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents predicted today.

RoSPA has led the fight to stop motorists using mobile phones while at the wheel, and knows of at least nine deaths on Britain’s roads where mobile phones have been implicated.

Many more road deaths involving mobile phones may have gone undiscovered - and The Society fears the boom in mobile phone sales is increasing the danger every day.

Dave Rogers, RoSPA Road Safety Adviser, said: "We are delighted that the television campaign announced today urges drivers to switch off their mobile phones.

"This is the ideal time for a campaign because millions of mobile phones were sold at Christmas. Many of those new users may be unaware of the dangers of making and receiving calls at the wheel.

"With modern messaging systems there is no need to leave a mobile on in a car. We would like companies to reinforce this campaign by making it part of their health and safety policies that employees should not use mobile phones while driving."

Research carried out by RoSPA in conjunction with Aston University indicated that drivers using mobile phones - whether hand-held or hands-free - were more likely to have an accident. They drove too close to other vehicles, failed to maintain speed control and wandered about on the road.

Substantial rises in stress levels were noted when drivers were on the phone - increasing the likelihood of a crash. Conversations started to take precedence over the driving task.

RoSPA’s message is: "When you're going to drive, switch off your mobile phone before you switch on your engine! Turn the phone on again when you're parked somewhere safely and use the messaging system to pick up calls."