02/09/2019

Government should consider ban on hands-free phones, say MPs

The government is facing growing calls from MPs and motoring groups to ban drivers from using hands-free devices behind the wheel.

Debate on the use of these devices has been fuelled by a recently published Commons Transport Committee (CTC) report stating hands-free devices carry the same risk of collision as a hand-held phone.

UK law currently permits the use of hands-free phones while driving, however the CTC suggest this law is “misleading” drivers into believing hands-free is safe to use.

But Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC, has urged the government to focus on enforcing the current law before turning their attentions to hands-free devices.

Figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show 43 people were killed and 135 left seriously injured in 2017, as a result of using a mobile phone while driving.

Concerns about the use of mobile phones on the road led to an increase in penalties in March 2017, with drivers caught using a hand-held phone now facing penalties of £200 and six penalty points.

However, questions are now being raised about the safety of using hands-free to communicate on the roads, with Labour MP Lilian Greenwood saying that using any type of phone can be distracting.

She said: “Despite the real risk of catastrophic consequences for themselves, their passengers and other road users, far too many drivers continue to break the law by using hand-held mobile phones.

“There is also a misleading impression that hands-free use is safe. The reality is that any use of a phone distracts from a driver’s ability to pay full attention and the Government should consider extending the ban to reflect this.”