HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT MOBILE PHONES AND DRIVING

Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell has urged Scots to make their views known on whether drivers should be banned from using hand-held mobile phones or use a mobile phone.

EXEMPTIONS MIGHT BE NEEDED

Helen Liddell said: "Mobile phones are now a part of daily life, but research has shown that drivers are four times as likely to have an accident if they are using one while driving. "The Government’s consultation launched today seeks a wide range of views on the possible introduction of a ban on hand-held phones, and asks for opinions on issues such as what, if any, exemptions might be needed.

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS YOUR VIEW NOW

"The input of all those who get involved will help us to decide the best way forward."The Government’s recent advertising campaign has increased awareness of the dangers of using a hand-held mobile while on the move. However, there is still a core of motorists who are currently ignoring these warnings, and we need to look closely at what may be needed to improve safety on our roads.

The government is consulting widely across the UK on whether to introduce a specific offence of driving while using a hand-held mobile phone. This should leave no-one in any doubt that we are serious about the dangers this practice presents to drivers, other road users and pedestrians."

NOTES

1. Recent figures suggest that nearly three quarters of adults in this country own their own mobile phone

2. Redelmeir and Tibshirani, 1997 (Canada)* examined the mobile phone bills of 699 drivers involved in accidents – immediately prior to their accident, and on other days to establish a control. Their findings were that the use of mobile phones in vehicles is associated with a quadrupled of the risk of a collision during the brief period of a call.

Source *Redelmeir, D A and Tibshirani, R J (2001). Car phones and car crashes: some popular misconceptions. Canadian Medical Association Journal, May 29, 2001; 164(11). This is a review of the 1997 study which is titled Association between cellular-telephone calls and motor vehicle collisions. N Eng J Med 1997; 336:453-8.

You should send your views to David Peagam, Department for Transport, Road Safety Division, Zone 2/11, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR, or by Fax: 020 7944 2029 or e-mail: roadsafety@dft.gsi.gov.uk before 25 November 2002.

Should you wish to chat to David please phone him on his direct line 020 7944 2046. On the other hand you may have a general enquiry if so phone Public Enquiries: 020 7944 3000. So go on, get it off your chest and make your views known now. Remember do it while the iron is still hot!

To look at consultation document just click here.