| Mobile Phones - and there's more! |
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New research has confirmed that drivers using hand held (which is of course illegal) or hands free phones whilst driving are putting themselves at greater risk of having a crash, due to the distraction which takes place by reducing the level of concentration needed to control the car and switching it to the phone conversation. One might think this all common sense, but many people just don't seem to get it! Now the Crown Prosecution Service are getting tougher and are publishing new rules allowing for prison sentences of up to two years for offenders. However, questions are being asked about the reality of the situation, and whether we do really have a problem with crashes and collisions as a result of using the phone to a level where such draconian reactions are really necessary and appropriate. Given that research has shown that the risk of a crash increases by a factor of four when using a phone of any type, drivers are putting other people's lives in danger quite unnecessarily. Doing nothing is therefore not a realistic option, so maybe this is the deterent that is needed? Editor - There is just one snag; judging by the number of drivers who I see abusing the law, there may be a need to build several new prisons to acommodate law-breaking motorists alone. So what happens in the short term? |
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