Dangers of mobile phones
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Motorists using mobile phones - including hands-free devices - can be sufficiently distracted to be regarded as unsafe, according to Government research. Baroness Hayman, the road safety minister, told peers that "there is an association between telephone use and increased accident risk".
The report, by the Transport Research Laboratory, says there was a quadrupling of the risk of collision during a phone-call in a car - and that hands- free devices offered "no advantage in that context". Drivers were also 30 per cent less likely to respond to a hazard than "phone-free" motorists when having an "intense conversation" on a "hands-free" telephone. Police can charge motorists whose driving is affected by using a telephone.
Many experts agree mobile-phone conversations while driving should be avoided. The problem for ministers is how to proceed. Lady Hayman is working on a code of practice with mobile-phone companies and motoring interests.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments