RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
January 29, 2004
N.I. DRIVERS WARNED NOT TO RISK USING MOBILE PHONES
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today urged Northern Ireland motorists not to risk breaking the new law banning the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving, which comes into force on Sunday (Feb 1).
Research has shown that whether the equipment is hand-held or hands-free, talking on a phone makes drivers four times more likely to have an accident. Ideally, the Society would like drivers prohibited from using hands-free phones as well.
RoSPA welcomed the decision to bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK by banning the use of hand-held mobile phones while at the wheel, but warned that motorists should not start using hands-free sets thinking they are safe.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety said: “We are delighted to see the new law, but it will not have the impact in Northern Ireland we have been hoping for if people switch to hands-free devices instead.
“It is the telephone conversation that is the main problem. People are drawn into the conversation and ignore what is happening on the road around them. They vary their speed, drive closer to other vehicles, wander about on the road and their reactions are slower.
“Sadly, on the UK mainland we still see some people ignoring the legislation and using hand-held phones while driving. They are endangering not only their own lives, but also those of the people on the road around them.
“They seem to think that their phone call is more important than someone’s life.”
RoSPA led the campaign to outlaw the use of mobiles by drivers and knows of at least 23 deaths on UK roads where mobile phones have been implicated – hands-free phones were being used in at least two of those tragedies. It is believed people talking on the phone have caused thousands of road accidents.
RoSPA has urged bosses to make it a disciplinary offence for an employee to use a mobile phone while driving on company business. If they don’t, and the worker has an accident then the company could face action under health and safety law.
People should switch off their phones when they get into their vehicles and not use them again until they are parked in a safe spot – as the Highway Code advises.
