A recently published Commons Transport Committee (CTC) report has suggested that hands-free devices are just as dangerous as a hand-held phone, carrying the same risk of an accident.
This has led to increasing numbers of MPs urging the government to ban drivers from using hands-free devices behind the wheel.
Whilst UK law allows hands-free phones during driving, the CTC say this law is misleading, convincing drivers it’s safe to use when the evidence says otherwise.
Labour MP Lilian Greenwood said that there’s a “Real risk of catastrophic consequences for themselves (drivers), their passengers and other road users… The reality is that any use of a phone distracts from a driver’s ability to pay full attention and the Government should consider extending the ban to reflect this.”
Considering the CTC claims, there are concerns that the government should continue to focus on enforcing the current law, rather than introduce a new one. Road police officers have dropped in number, meaning that those breaking law and using their mobile phones may not even be caught.
There are further concerns that the proposal is actually ridiculous; Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has recently tweeted his disapproval, arguing that “…talking to a passenger or having 2 noisy kids in the car (is) equally, if not more, distracting…should they be banned too?”