RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
February 3, 1999
CALL FOR CHANGE IN LAW AFTER MOBILE PHONE DEATH CRASH
Comment on Lincoln Crown Court Mobile Phone Death Crash
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today renewed its call for a ban on mobile phones while driving after Lincoln Crown Court heard that a driver in a death crash was using a mobile phone.
RoSPA says it is the sixth case in Great Britain in which a mobile phone has been implicated in a road death.
Dave Rogers, RoSPA Road Safety Adviser, said: "This latest tragic case reinforces our argument that there needs to be a law which states that it is an offence to use a mobile phone while driving.
"Until there is, we believe there will continue to be accidents like this one because people do not realise how serious it is and believe they will get away with it.
"We have no idea how many accidents are being caused by mobile phone users because no statistics are kept, and there is no specific offence. Sadly, it is only when someone dies that people seem to take notice.
"At present people can be prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention or not having proper control over their vehicle - but it is down to how an individual police officer interprets the situation. If the use of mobile phones was banned while driving, there would be no doubt in a motorist’s mind that it was wrong to use one."
He said research showed that drivers using a mobile phone - whether hand-held or hands-free - were four times more likely to have accident during, and up to five minutes after, a conversation.
"This case demonstrates once again that being on the phone while at the wheel is totally different to talking to a passenger or listening to a radio."
Mobile phones could be used quite safely when a car was stationary. Companies should make it part of their health and safety policy that their drivers should not make or receive calls while on the move, he said.
