Should Uk Legislation Prohibit Hands Free Mobile Phones Whilst Driving?
Abstract
This paper reviews the relationship of mobile phone usage whilst driving a motor vehicle. It concentrates specifically on the legal use of hands free technology; whether the distracting nature of conversing whilst using these voice recognition activated communication devices is potentially life threatening; or should this currently acceptable practice continue.
The reason we can and still utilise hands free technology is explored as well as why phone manufacturers are consistently improving safety and advancing the benefits for the in-transit user. Driver distractions that are commonly thought to impair safety are compared in order to balance the research evidence.
The conclusions indicate that hands free mobile phone usage is a distraction and also highlights areas for further study that would benefit not only legislation, but also phone manufacturers and accident investigations. Introduction
When driving a motor vehicle you are responsible for the safety of yourself, your passengers, other road users and pedestrians (The Highway Code, 2007). This paper focuses on our use of hands free technology in mobile phones and asks the question whether UK legislation should be changed to impose a total ban on their use whilst in control of a vehicle.
It will look at current UK law and focus on what we are presently allowed to do, as well as looking at statistical data, our usage whilst driving, and also introducing policies that some organisations already incorporate into their working procedures whilst employees are conducting business.
The advancement in phone manufacturers’ technologies in their products to make it a safer experience within the law is defined, looking specifically at in-car technology, voice-activated connectivity and voice recognition for SMS.
The distractions from mobile phone activity, whether hands free or not, are compared to other driver distractions, and will ask whether the change in UK law is a good idea, or whether hands
This paper reviews the relationship of mobile phone usage whilst driving a motor vehicle. It concentrates specifically on the legal use of hands free technology; whether the distracting nature of conversing whilst using these voice recognition activated communication devices is potentially life threatening; or should this currently acceptable practice continue.
The reason we can and still utilise hands free technology is explored as well as why phone manufacturers are consistently improving safety and advancing the benefits for the in-transit user. Driver distractions that are commonly thought to impair safety are compared in order to balance the research evidence.
The conclusions indicate that hands free mobile phone usage is a distraction and also highlights areas for further study that would benefit not only legislation, but also phone manufacturers and accident investigations. Introduction
When driving a motor vehicle you are responsible for the safety of yourself, your passengers, other road users and pedestrians (The Highway Code, 2007). This paper focuses on our use of hands free technology in mobile phones and asks the question whether UK legislation should be changed to impose a total ban on their use whilst in control of a vehicle.
It will look at current UK law and focus on what we are presently allowed to do, as well as looking at statistical data, our usage whilst driving, and also introducing policies that some organisations already incorporate into their working procedures whilst employees are conducting business.
The advancement in phone manufacturers’ technologies in their products to make it a safer experience within the law is defined, looking specifically at in-car technology, voice-activated connectivity and voice recognition for SMS.
The distractions from mobile phone activity, whether hands free or not, are compared to other driver distractions, and will ask whether the change in UK law is a good idea, or whether hands