§ Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures he plans to take to encourage greater awareness among the motoring public of the dangers of using mobile phones when driving. [44609]
§ Mr. JamiesonTo reinforce the message in the Highway Code, the Department is currently preparing new publicity to be launched this spring, as part of its "Think!" campaign, to raise awareness of the dangers of using mobile phones when driving.
§ Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he plans to review the legislative framework regarding the use of mobile phones when driving. [44608]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government are satisfied that current legislation provides the police with sufficient powers to enable them to prosecute irresponsible drivers. However, in accordance with our Road Safety Strategy "Tomorrow"s roads—safer for everyone", we will keep the need for new legislation under review.
§ Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the dangers relating to driving when using (a) hand-held and (b) hands-free mobile phones;[44614]
360W(2) what research his Department is undertaking into the dangers relating to the use of mobile phones when driving. [44615]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Department is satisfied that there is clear evidence of an increased risk of an accident when using any type of mobile phone while driving. International research has established that the increased risk of an accident arises from the distracting effects of holding a telephone conversation rather than from just driving with one hand on the wheel. Further research, commissioned within the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme towards the end of last year, is under way to measure the distraction from hands-free phones in comparison to other common driver distractions such as talking with passengers or tuning the radio.