Getting a handle on danger
Police convinced of dangers of hands-free phone use by drivers
Called “We need to talk about hands-free”, the project was funded by The Road Safety Trust.
It involved academics from the Universities of Staffordshire and Keele.
Hands-on reality
Hands-free mobile phone use by drivers is not illegal. This is despite a vast body of research showing it is no safer than hand-held phone use.
The effects of hands-free phone use by drivers is also compared to the effects of drink and drug driving.
This latest project was aimed specifically at police officers.
Being at the frontline, they deal with the devastation that distracted driving can cause.
Academics want to to ensure they are fully informed and understanding of the effects and dangers.
Seeing is believing
Nearly 500 officers from England and Wales that took part in an interactive video task .
This was designed by the researchers at the Open University (OU).
Having watched the interactive video, officer attitudes to the safety of legal hands-free mobile phone use by drivers dramatically changed.
The result was 88% reporting that, in future encounters with phone-using drivers, they would explain the dangers of all phone use, not just hand-held use.
While the use of hands-free remains legal, dangerous negative effects can be used in prosecutions of drivers.
Taking note
Now Chief Constable Jo Shiner is the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for roads policing. She is urging drivers to carefully consider the findings.
“I welcome any research which progresses our understanding of risk and how it can be removed from our roads,” she said.
“This is a positive step forward in terms of preventing harm and reducing fatal and serious collisions. This work should be applauded and carefully considered by everyone who uses the roads.”
The NPCC is currently running a campaign to crackdown on driver distraction by mobile phone use.
Conclusive
Meanwhile, Ruth Purdie, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, emphasised the dangers of hands-free use behind the wheel.
“Evidence shows that hands-free is as dangerous as physically using a mobile phone.
“The cognitive distraction can increase crash risk, reduce hazard detection, and lead to poor situational awareness.
“Therefore, it is vital, as this report highlights, that police officers are not recommending hands-free as a safe alternative to illegally using a hand-held device.
“We hope this project can shine a light on the issue and provide officers the guidance they need when encountering offenders.”
No distractions
The research “emphatically demonstrates” that hands-free phone use is no safer than hand-held phone use.
Gemma Briggs, professor of applied cognitive psychology at the OU says this is because of the cognitive distraction it causes.
“The problem is not many people realise this, and many resist these research findings,” she said. “This project has highlighted the importance of the advice that is given being focused on safety, not just legality.”
Existing research shows drivers using either a hand-held or a hands-free phone are four times more likely to be involved in a collision. The often fail to notice hazards – even when they appear directly ahead of them – and take longer to react to any hazards they do notice.
Dr Helen Wells of Keele University, senior lecturer in criminology, believes the project results can only help the police and road safety.
“When a police officer stops someone for using their mobile phone illegally, they have an opportunity to give safe or unsafe advice to a driver.
“Our project means that more officers will now give advice that will keep drivers safe, not just keep them out of trouble with the law.”
