Mobile phone users as dangerous as drink drivers

The Government has introduced new legislation in the UK that will impose a £60 fine and three penalty points for any driver caught using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving.

Research by the Transport Research Laboratory in the UK shows that the biggest risk when using a mobile phone whilst driving, whether it is hand-held or hands-free, is the distraction caused by the conversation. There are, of course, many things that distract drivers, especially if they are making a work-related journey, and to minimise the chance that he or she will be involved in a collision, drivers must concentrate on their driving at all times.

Andy Price, Practice Leader – Motor Fleet, Zurich Risk Services said “Mobile phones are probably the biggest distraction, with research evidence suggesting that holding a conversation on the phone leads to drivers having similar reaction times to someone twice over the UK drink-drive limit. At 40mph, a concentrating driver will travel 13.3m before activating the brakes in the event of an emergency. A driver at the UK drink-drive limit will travel 20.0m and the sober, hands-free phone user will travel 22.3m before activating the brakes.

“This difference in a driver’s reaction time clearly increases their risk of being involved in a collision – in fact research from around the world has shown that drivers who use hand-held or hands-free phones whilst driving have a 4x increased risk of being involved in a collision1. “Our advice to fleet managers is that it can be an offence to require people to use mobile phones while driving – you are asking them to ‘drive while not in control of the vehicle’. It is therefore important that you encourage company policies limiting work and personal phone use while driving and consider supplying mobile phones that cannot be used whilst a vehicle is in motion. Also persuade your drivers to use voicemail or call divert, and stop regularly to check messages or return calls.”

1. If you contact an employee who may be driving:
Ask if they are driving and, if they are, if it is safe to talk
State how urgent the call is
Keep the message brief and if necessary ask the driver to call you back when they stop

For employees who drive:
Never use a hand-held mobile phone when driving.
Ensure your voicemail is activated or set up automatic diverts to other team members.
Make critical calls before you start your journey.
Pull over in a safe place if you have to take/make calls.
Ask your passengers to take and make calls on your behalf.

Andy Price, Practice Leader – Motor Fleet, Zurich Risk Services continued “Employers will need to ensure that their employees are complying with the law and not using hand-held phones whilst driving. They should also consider defining what is best practice for their company drivers e.g. do they want to ban employees using any mobile telephones whilst driving? As with any aspect of risk management, managers should identify and understand the risks involved and then decide if these risks are acceptable in their business.