Should you ban the use of hands-free mobiles while driving?

Yes, by Graham Hurdle, managing director, E-Training World

The use of mobile phones while driving, even when hands-free, is extremely dangerous and should be completely banned.

A momentary loss of concentration leading to a one-second delay in reaction time – equivalent to an extra 75 feet of stopping distance when travelling at 50mph – could be the difference between life and death.

Those who argue in favour tend to focus on the fact that speaking on a mobile is the same as speaking to a passenger. It is not.

A passenger can see what is happening on the road and will react accordingly, by stopping talking to allow the driver to concentrate.Evidence also shows that a significant amount of focus is channelled into having a telephone conversation and the brain cannot concentrate on the two activities.

Even if you are in favour of allowing hands-free conversations in vehicles, be very concerned that staff are having discussions that they find hard to recollect, as this could cost you money.

Having the conversation in the first place could cost lives.

So why allow it when it’s proven to be both dangerous and when only a fraction of the content can be remembered anyway?

  • E-Training World provides on-line training and assessment solutions

No, by Marcus Noble, managing director, Active Risk Management

We firmly believe that there is not a need to ban hands-free mobile phones in the light of recent case law, providing companies ensure they have robust mobile phone policies in place and that they are effectively managed.

The ideal mobile phone policy should state clearly that the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving is illegal and expressly forbidden, as is the sending/typing and reading/receiving of text messages or emails.

It should also state that the company does not require or expect its employees to use a mobile telephone while driving.

It has been proven without doubt that the risk of accidents is multiplied by the distraction that is caused, whether the phone is hands-free or not.

Should, however, the employee wish to use a mobile phone while driving with a legally compliant hands-free operation, then this is not against the law and it is solely at the employee’s discretion to do so.

Our training courses focus on helping employees understand and appreciate road conditions where using a hands-free mobile may be permissible.

These include situations where making space and creating escape routes enable a call to be managed.

  • Active Risk Management provides fleet risk management solutions