Focus on Driver Distraction
Mobile Phones
Using a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone while driving substantially increases the risk of crashing. Drivers who use a mobile phone, whether hand-held or hands-free:
- are much less aware of what’s happening on the road around them
- fail to see road signs
- fail to maintain proper lane position and steady speed
- are more likely to ‘tailgate’ the vehicle in front
- react more slowly and take longer to brake
- are more likely to enter unsafe gaps in traffic
- feel more stressed and frustrated.
They are four times more likely to crash, injuring or killing themselves and/or other people. They are likely to be at fault for the crash.
Using a hands-free phone while driving does not significantly reduce the risks because the problems are caused mainly by the mental distraction and divided attention of taking part in a phone conversation at the same time as driving.
Hand-held Phones
It is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. It is also an offence to “cause or permit” a driver to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving.
Therefore, employers can be held liable as well as the individual driver if they require employees to use a hand-held phone while driving.
Hands-free Phones
It can be illegal to use a hands-free phone while driving if it distracts the driver.
Depending on the circumstances, drivers could be charged with ‘failing to have proper control of their vehicle’.
In more serious cases, the use of any type of mobile phone could result in prosecution for careless or dangerous driving.
The Police may check phone records when investigating fatal and serious crashes to determine if use of the phone contributed to a crash.
High mileage and company car drivers are more likely than most to use a mobile phone while driving.
Other Distractions
Many other things can distract a driver and increase the risk of crashing, such as eating, drinking, smoking, reading a map and so on, while driving.
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