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UK News - Breaking news in the field of health and safety
Even more reason to switch off the mobile
The likely introduction of penalty points for those caught using hand-held phones while driving is yet one more good reason to switch off and not turn them on again until stopped in a safe place.The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) suggests businesses should be acting in anticipation of the arrival of the new road safety legislation, its Head of Driver and Fleet Solutions explains.
“Points on licences for talking on the phone take drivers one step closer to a ban. A banned driver could be sacked and the company might lose business and face the expense of having to find a replacement.Fleet managers and human resources departments need to be sure they have the policies in place to deal with this issue now. This makes regular licence checks even more important, and shows how essential it is for bosses to examine the licences of new employees who will have to be on the road as part of their job.It should be a disciplinary offence for drivers to make or receive calls while on the move, and employers need to ensure their staff have suitable technology to pick up messages and return calls when they are parked safely.Office-based staff should to be trained so that they do not call people who are driving. Good journey planning can help them to know when fellow employees are likely to be off the road. This can prevent drivers from picking up the phone needlessly if they have forgotten to switch it off. Talking on the phone – whether hand-held or hands-free - while driving makes motorists four times more likely to crash, people taking a business call will understandably need to give it 100% concentration and that means their driving is bound to suffer.Employers who think that their calls are more important than someone’s life will be sending out the wrong message to their staff and their customers. They are also likely to be breaking health and safety laws if they allow their employees to make calls while at the wheel.” - RoSPA Head of Driver and Fleet Solutions
