Using hands?free mobile phones while driving could be banned under MPs plans

by Richard Vaughan

MPs have demanded that ministers look into bringing in a ban on motorists using hands-free mobile phones while driving.

The controversial measures have been recommended as evidence suggests the use of hands-free mobiles can create the “same risk of a collision” as using hand-held mobiles, the Commons Transport Committee warned.

Driving law only prohibits the use of phones being held by drivers, which MPs believe gives the “misleading impression” that hands-free is safe.

The cross-party committee acknowledged that there would be practical challenges to criminalising hands-free phone use and enforcing the offence, but insisted “this does not mean that we should not do it”.

Mobile phone ban extension

It recommended that the Government should explore options for extending the current ban on hand-held mobiles and publish a public consultation on the issue by the end of 2019.

In 2017, there were 773 casualties on Britain’s roads – including 43 deaths and 135 serious injuries – in crashes where a driver using a mobile was a contributory factor.

The committee said the number of people killed or seriously injured in such accidents has risen steadily since 2011 but the rate of enforcement regarding phone use has plunged by more than two-thirds since the same year.

Department for Transport said dangerous driving is already a crime (Photo: Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

It called for the police to make greater use of technology to crack down on drivers using their mobiles while driving, as it admitted that police forces were already under financial strain.