Company News from yesinsurance
11 March 2008 Insurer Disputes Research On Phone Use By Drivers
Latest Department of Transport figures which show a reduction in the number of drivers using mobile phones, are giving a misleading impression that road safety is improving, according to a statement issued today by motor insurer yesinsurance.co.uk.
Research carried out between September 2006 and August 2007 showed a 40% decrease in the number of drivers using hand-held mobile phones. This was taken to imply that the stricter penalties instituted in February 2007, which increased the penalty for offenders to three penalty points and a £60 fine, were having a beneficial effect.
However, the insurer says that this paints a misleading picture.
“Research studies now indicate pretty conclusively that hands-free phones, which drivers are switching to, are just as dangerous as hand-held ones,” said Paul Purdy of yesinsurance.co.uk.
“The level of risk can equal that of drink-driving, so to say that drivers are switching to hands-free kits is really missing the point when it comes to road safety,” he said.
“Whilst it may be difficult to enforce, we would like to see a clear ban on using mobile phones whilst driving a vehicle, whether or not they are hands-free. There needs to be a greater emphasis given to warning drivers that use of a hands-free device can be as dangerous as drink-driving.”
Research conducted at the University of Sydney’s Injury Prevention and Trauma Care Division indicates that people who use their mobile phones whilst driving – including people using hands-free devices – are four times more likely to crash.
In the UK, research conducted at the Transport Research Laboratory has found that drivers talking on both hand-held and hands-free mobile phones have on average 30 per cent slower reaction times than those who have been drinking, and 50 per cent slower times than sober drivers.
Similar results were found during tests which were undertaken at the University of Utah in the United States, comparing use of hands-free phones and drinking at the UK limit.
Hands-free phones are not currently prohibited in the UK, but legal action can still be taken against drivers who have been using them, if it is believed that this has been a contributory factor in an accident.
yesinsurance.co.uk says that research indicates that the combination of visual, auditory, mental and physical distractions caused by using mobile phones can cause a severe deterioration in the ability of the driver to react quickly to changing conditions.
“Conversations with passengers can incorporate periods of silence, but telephone conversations tend to be continuous, requiring a greater commitment in terms of concentration from the driver,” said Paul Purdy.
“There are also visual clues which can be picked up by drivers and passengers, but these are missing when the conversation is being conducted over a telephone,” he said.
Commenting on ways to get the message through to drivers, Paul Purdy said:
“We would like to see the launch of a campaign that urges drivers to switch off their mobile phone before setting off on a trip, so that messages can be received by voicemail. Telling people to use hands-free kits is not the answer to the problem.”
