HC Deb 10 November 2003 vol 413 cc16-8W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department(a) has carried out and (b) has collated on the effect on the risk of collision of (i) hand-held and (ii) hands-free mobile phone use when driving. [137182]

Mr. Jamieson

The Department commissioned the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to review the relevant research on the use of any mobile phone while driving. The report, was published in 2001 and is available on-line at:

www.rospa.com/pdfs/road.mobiles/report.pdf.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives of police forces concerning the enforcement of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No 4) Regulations 2003; and if he will make a statement. [137183]

Mr. Jamieson

The Department consulted representative police organisations prior to making the new regulation introducing an offence of using a hand-held mobile phone when driving. Enforcement will be a matter for the police.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to publicise the new regulations concerning the use of mobile phones when driving. [137184]

Mr. Jamieson

My Department is publicising the new hand-held mobile phone legislation in a number of waysNational radio advertising will begin on 17 November 2003 and run for four weeks. National press advertising will appear in late November 2003 and early December 2003. Information will be emailed to the top 1,000 UK companies/Central and Local Government Departments in November 2003 encouraging them to cascade messages to employees. National press release will be issued on 17 November 2003 and journalists approached to generate national and regional media coverage. Variable message signs on motorways will carry messages regarding the new legislation. Public relations activity will target relevant HR, business, personnel, office management, legal and auto-fleet magazines in November 2003. Promotional materials including posters and leaflets are now available and will be disseminated by Road Safety Officers around the country. Detailed information about the new legislation is available on the Think! website www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk and the DfT website.

The Department is also re-iterating the dangers of driver distraction surrounding the use of all mobiles phones, focusing on the simple message "Switch off before you drive off" in the following ways: In January 2004 national radio advertising will run for two weeks. National cinema advertising will begin in February 2004 and run for eight weeks.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to publish further guidance regarding the new regulations on the use of mobile phones when driving, in addition to the guidance on the Department for Transport website. [137185]

Mr. Jamieson

The Department's advice leaflet on mobile phones and driving has been updated to take account of the new regulations and the text was recently added to the THINK Road Safety site at www. thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/mobile/index.htm. Printed copies (product code T/INF/885) will shortly be available free of charge from the Department's distribution centre, telephone 0870 122 6236.

Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children under 16(a) received a serious head injury as a result of a cycling accident and (b) died in each of the last 10 years. [136423]

Dr. Ladyman

I have been asked to reply.

The available information is shown in the tables.

Financial year Number of admissions of

children under 16

1995–96 2,333
1996–97 2,781
1997–98 3,349
1998–99 2,711
1999–2000 3,115
2000–01 3,489
2001–02 3,372

Due to changes in coding methodology it is only possible to provide the last seven years of data.

Calendar year Deaths from head

injuries in cyclists

All deaths

in cyclists

1993 19 30
1994 27 39
1995 31 43
1996 34 47
1997 25 35
1998 18 29
1999 20 32
2000 14 24
2001 12 19
2002 10 19

Data for 2001 and 2002 may not be directly comparable to those for previous years, due to changes in coding methodology in 2001. The figures should therefore be interpreted with caution.