RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
February 15, 2001
SIXTEENTH ROAD DEATH PROMPTS NEW CALL FOR PHONE BAN
[BBC News - 'Text message' driver gets five years]
The jailing of a lorry driver, who veered off the road and killed a man while composing a text message, reinforced the need to ban the use of mobile phones while driving, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said today.
RoSPA said the temptation to answer a call or deal with text messages had to be removed.
There had now been at least 16 deaths on Britain’s roads in which a mobile phone had been implicated - and the latest case was the second where text messaging was believed to be involved.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said that Paul Hammond’s death might just be "the tip of the iceberg".
"Sadly it is only when someone is killed that the problems associated with mobiles and driving are highlighted," he said. "As there is no specific offence relating to mobile phones and driving, it is impossible to keep track of how often they are a major factor in accidents.
"We believe hundreds of accidents may be caused by the use of mobiles, but are going unrecorded. Text messaging is the latest craze and therefore poses a new threat to road safety.
"This case in which a lorry driver has been jailed for five years for causing death by dangerous driving reinforces the need for a specific offence to ban the use of mobiles while driving.
"We already know that conversations on a mobile - whether hand-held or hands-free - make you more likely to have a crash. To read or send a text message while at the wheel is totally irresponsible and endangers not only the driver but other road users.
"A specific offence relating to mobiles would make it crystal clear to drivers that they should switch off their mobile before starting the engine. In that way any temptation to read or send text messages or take part in phone conversations would be removed."
The only safe way for drivers to use mobiles in vehicles was when they were stopped in a safe place. Messaging systems would keep track of calls while the phone was switched off. He urged companies to make it part of their health and safety policies that drivers should not use mobile phones while on the move.
