Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to review the operation of road traffic law in relation to the use of mobile telephones by drivers of road vehicles. [58741]
§ Mr. JamiesonIn accordance with our road safety strategy, we are keeping the need for new legislation on the use of mobile phones by drivers under review.
Gareth ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the number of road accidents in which the use of mobile telephones by the driver has been a contributory factor. [58740]
§ Mr. JamiesonDetailed investigation is needed to establish he cause of any accident. Two research projects currently under way will help to establish the likely numbers of road traffic accidents involving mobile phones. One project involves carrying out in-depth analysis of police fatal road accident reports that identify distraction as a possible contributory factor. The other involves on-the-spot studies of accidents in order to improve the understanding of the influences of human involvement, vehicle and highway design on accident causation and injury mechanisms. Nevertheless, international research has provided clear evidence of an increased risk of an accident when using a mobile phone while driving.