Using mobile phones or devices when driving

The use of mobile phones in vehicles has come to the forefront of our minds again with the unnecessary deaths of four people. On the 10th August 2016. HGV driver Tomasz Kroker drove his vehicle into the poor family's car at 50mph whilst search music on his mobile phone. Video footage that has has been released shows the terrfiying moment when Tomasz Kroker came to relalise that he was about to plough into stationary traffic. Initially Mr Kroker claimed that his brakes on his vehicle failed. In reality he had driven his lorry for almost 1km without paying any attention to the road in front of him. The use of using a mobile device has been illegal for sometime now which currently carries a penalty of 3 points on your licence and a £100 fine. This for most of us is more than enough to make us steer clear of using a phone whilst being the driver of a vehicle but still the a large majority of people are still flauting the law. The case above demonstrates just how deadly using a mobile device can be. It is not without any surprise that the penalties for using a mobile phone behind the wheel are currently being reviewed which could mean harsher penalties for those caught. Alas the regardless of what laws are past they will not bring the loved ones that have been tragically taken before their time. Many years ago I got into a pretty heated argument with a sales director with regards to the use of a mobile phone. It all started because of a 3 hour journey to and from our main client. So 6 hours spent driving, which is normal for some drivers, was enough to contend with however the clash came when I was back in the office and was asked how many calls I had made whilst driving. I said none as I was driving. To my astonishment he released a torrent of rage as he believed I had wasted 6 hours without calling and speaking to other clients! Now I am sure that many of employees have felt pressured, like I was, into making and taking calls whilst driving however the response should be the same in that you should not do it. How did I counter it? 1. Remind the individual that that using a mobile phone is an offence whilst driving, note a hands-free kit whilst may be potentially acceptable can be used against you if you are involved in an accident and if proven you were distracted your liable to be dealt with in the same manner as if you had been holding the phone. 2. The directors of a company are responsible for their employees health and safety. By being demanded that you take or make calls whilst driving you are not only automatically committing offence and also putting yourself at risk of an accident. The above worked for me and needless to say the tone of the conversation changed in my favour. In the world we are today there are pressures to be in contact all the time, Facebook, Snapchat, Whatssapp, Skype.....the list goes on. However all of these are really meant for when you are not in control of a vehicle that is ultimatley a piloted killing machine in the wrong hands. In summary it is best to leave the mobile off as it is the safest way.