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Hands-free ban for company staff Mobile phone drivers face prison
(about 4 hours later)
One of the UK's biggest transport firms will ban employees from using mobile phones even with legal hands-free kits. Motorists caught driving dangerously while using a mobile phone face being sent to prison under new guidelines.
FirstGroup's bus and train drivers are already banned from using them and that will extend to any staff on business. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has issued guidance to courts because of concerns that too many drivers are flouting the ban on hand-held phones.
The firm commissioned research which suggests talking behind the wheel can quadruple the risk of accidents. Most drivers will still face the standard penalty of a fine and points.
The Transport Research Laboratory study found hands-free kits provided no safety advantage over illegally holding a phone while driving. But where driving is far below what is safe prosecutors can press charges of dangerous driving, which carries a maximum prison sentence of two years.
Crash danger When he announced the change in policy earlier this year, the Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken Macdonald said this could include sending a text message while driving.
According to the research, a driver on the phone was more distracted than a driver who had drunk as much as the legal alcohol limit. Hands-free ban
The risk of a crash was four times higher when the driver was on the phone, it found. Meanwhile, some employers are banning the use of legal hands-free kits because of research suggesting they have no safety benefits.
A legal ban would be difficult to enforce because police officers would have to spot a driver's lips moving. Chatting to a passenger can be distracting, but what we found is that it's less so than having a mobile call Dr Nick ReedTransport Research Laboratory
However, once the motorist is stopped mobile phone records could show a conversation took place. One of the UK's biggest transport companies, FirstGroup, has announced none of its employees will be allowed to use hands-free mobiles.
The firm's bus and train drivers are already banned from using them and that will be extended to any staff on company business.
It follows findings by the Transport Research Laboratory that having a phone conversation could be more dangerous than drink-driving.
According to the research, a driver on the phone is more distracted than one who has drunk as much as the legal alcohol limit.
'Modify conversation'
The risk of a crash was four times higher when the driver was on the phone, the study found.
Dr Nick Reed, from the laboratory, told the BBC that part of the danger from using a mobile phone was because the person at the other end could not see the driver.
He said: "Chatting to a passenger can be distracting, but what we found is that it's less so than having a mobile call.
"What we think that is to do with is that the passenger can see the traffic around you and can maybe pick up on your body language cues, and then modify the conversation accordingly."
FirstGroup operates more than one in five local bus services across the UK, and trains including First Great Western.FirstGroup operates more than one in five local bus services across the UK, and trains including First Great Western.