1.27 Mobile phone use while driving: enforcement and education

Research into the effects of mobile phone use on driving performance has demonstrated serious implications for driver safety. Dual tasking drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than undistracted drivers, and hands-free phone use offers no safety benefit over hand-held.

Whilst hand-held mobile phone use has been illegal in the UK since 2003, and new tougher laws were introduced in 2017, the law does not recognise the dangers of hands-free phone use. Increasing numbers of drivers admit to using their phones and despite innovative enforcement initiatives, many go unchallenged. Notably, for those caught using their phones, no education course is offered to help reduce future offending.

This project aims to identify what education was previously available to drivers in relation to mobile phone offences (prior to 2017), and if police forces feel some kind of education may be beneficial. Project outputs will inform the creation of educational resources which will be freely available to the general public.

Outputs