Talking on the road: time to switch off your mobile phone?

While it is now against the law to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, according to the UK's leading motoring agencies the latest hands-free Bluetooth technology does not significantly reduce the risk of accidents on the road.

According to recent research by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Highways Agency, while mobile phones provide key benefits - namely for personal security on the road and the ability to call for assistance in the event of an emergency - tests have shown that drivers cannot help being distracted by an incoming phone call or text message. A conversation on a hands-free phone, they believe, is no less distracting than using a hand-held one.

Police forces are not the only ones cracking down on motorists who risk lives by using mobile phones. Many of the UK's leading car insurance providers are now showing support by increasing the premiums quoted for offenders - or even refusing cover.

Current road safety law

The current offence of careless driving, which applies to those who drive unsafely by using a mobile or equipment such as a satellite-navigation system, carries a 2,500 fine or community order.

Since the new law came into effect in February 2008, motorists are more commonly punished for the offence of using a hand-held mobile while driving, for which they are hit with a 60 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

Arrests for dangerous driving (including use of mobiles or satellite navigation systems) can lead to a two-year prison sentence. Those caught fiddling with an MP3 music player or texting on a mobile at the wheel could also face the charge.

Prosecutions will be brought whenever it is judged that using the equipment posed a danger, such as forcing a car to swerve or causing a distracted motorist to jump a red light. Those who kill while using a mobile phone will face 14 years behind bars under the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

You can also be prosecuted for using a hands-free mobile phone if you are not in proper control of your vehicle. The penalties will be the same as for using a hand-held one.

The Hands-free debate

A substantial body of research produced by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reveals that drivers who use a mobile phone, whether hand-held or hands-free are four times more likely to crash, injuring or killing themselves and/or other people.

RoSPA claims that using a hands-free phone while driving does not significantly reduce the risks because the problems are caused mainly by the mental distraction of taking part in a phone conversation at the same time as driving.

Their research, which monitored drivers' reactions, makes for sobering reading, Drivers' reaction times were, on average, 30% slower when talking on a mobile than when just over the legal alcohol limit, and nearly 50% slower than when driving normally. Drivers were also less able to maintain a constant speed and found it more difficult to keep a safe distance from the car in front.

In the tests at 70 miles per hour, the braking distance was 102ft (31m), which increased to 115ft (35m) with alcohol; 128ft (39m) with a hands-free phone and 148ft (45m) with a hand-held mobile.

As such, RoSPA is calling for stricter controls regarding the use of hands-free mobile phone devices.

Insurance matters

For motorists fined for using hand-held mobile phones, the three points added to their licence can also bump up their car insurance costs. The growing number of mobile phone offences has, of course, also had a significant impact on insurance premiums.

In addition to the fixed 60 penalty charge, motorists could be faced with paying up to an 18% increase in premiums because they represent a higher risk.

In the event of an accident, police now routinely check mobile phone records to find out whether use of a phone was a contributory cause.

Your car insurance provider will also ask you if you have incurred any endorsements on your licence when you contact them to take out or renew your cover, and failure to honestly report any penalties could compromise your insurance cover

Motoring Agencies are now hopeful that the rising cost of car insurance premiums - if not the high risk of injury - will encourage drivers to hit the mute button.

According to the Highways Agency, the best advice is to switch off before you drive off.

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