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Mobile phones to be removed from drivers involved in RTAs (28 July 2014)

Date: 28/07/2014
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Mobile phones to be removed from drivers involved in RTAs

Police officers have been ordered to remove mobile phones from drivers who are involved in a car crash, in a bid to cut the number of road traffic accidents (RTAs) which are caused by motorists using their handheld mobile phones or texting while behind the wheel.

Gloucester Chief Constable Suzette Davenport issued the order for police to remove mobiles after road crashes. She is also in charge of roads policing at the Association of Chief Police Officers – and said she was “determined” to reduce the number of road accidents in the UK, which result from drivers using mobile phones behind the wheel.

It is illegal in the UK to use a handheld mobile while driving, although using a mobile phone mounted on the dashboard is still legal.

Drivers are advised to pull over whenever possible if they need to make or take a phone call while driving, to lower the risk of having a road accident.

It is estimated that more than 500 people are killed every year as a result of mobile phone use while driving.

The new rules mean that mobile phones could be taken away to be used as evidence in any prosecution for a road traffic offence following a road accident.

The Daily Mail reports that charities and campaign groups have welcomed the move – but have accused MPs and the police of “failing to make road safety a priority”.

However those opposed to police confiscation of mobile phones after road accidents say that drivers could lose their mobile even for being involved in a simple “shunt” in a car park – and removing mobile phones would also prevent motorists and passengers from contacting friends and relatives, or even insurers.

It has even been suggested that police intervention to remove a mobile phone from a road crash site could hamper or lengthen recovery attempts by emergency services.

However, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has already said that he is considering doubling the penalties for those involved in road traffic accidents who are found to have been using their mobile phone before the accident.

The current penalty is three points on a driving licence – this may increase to six points, said Mr McLoughlin.

“The amount of casualties has been absolutely appalling – we’ve got to change this” he said.

Using a mobile phone while driving is thought to contribute to around one in every 100 deaths in fatal road accidents.

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