If your car is a mobile office, stop before you work
By Dr Will Murray, research director, Interactive Driving Systems
Following a landmark case involving Lynne-Marie Howden, a business director, who was found guilty of causing death by careless driving while using a hands-free mobile, business car managers and drivers should review policies on mobile phones while driving.
Interactive Driving Systems has this advice.
Be fully aware of the legal requirements and company policy regarding use of mobile phones.
Plan each aspect of your journey before you start, enabling you to take regular breaks and deal with calls.
If your phone rings while driving, allow the call to divert to voicemail.
Stop in a safe place to take regular breaks to make a call or retrieve messages. Do not stop where you pose a hazard for other vehicles or pedestrians.
Never take notes, write messages, look up phone numbers, read or send SMS messages while driving.
Do not use a mobile phone while driving as your major task is to arrive safely at your destination.
Under no circumstances participate in conference calls while driving.
Ask your passengers to take and make calls on your behalf.
Even in cases where businesses feel the need to stop short of banning all mobile phone equipment while driving, business car managers and drivers should take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of themselves, their people and other road users in the wider community.
