Text driving – £200 Fine and 6 Points

You would be surprised how many businesses don’t. Yet March 2017 saw the introduction of tougher penalties for those caught using mobile phones whilst driving – even when stopped in a traffic jam – and employers will risk prosecution too.

There are shocking stories of deaths on the road caused simply by someone replying to a text or getting totally distracted by taking a mobile phone call without a hands free set – the same goes for using the phone as a SatNav.

Shared from the AA website the video aims to show that using a mobile phone is even more dangerous – and at least as anti-social – than drink driving.

Using a phone whilst driving IS anti-social, and it will become less acceptable and quickly with this new campaign. People are fallible so ALL OF US need to have a sense check when that mobile pings in the car!  What about you as an Employer – what are your responsibilities?

Employers

Employers, you might be open to prosecution if you:

• Cause or permit employees to drive while using a phone or to not have proper control of the vehicle.
• Require employees to make or receive calls whilst driving.
• Install a phone and subsequently your employee drives dangerously because they’re using a phone.

This is even for a hands-free phone so it is imperative that you make sure the correct policies, procedures – and perhaps most crucially – training is in place to ensure that your employees operate within the law, and in safety – for themselves and other road users.

Don’t be caught out, talk to us about how we can help develop your Employee Handbook and/or Employee Policy as a one off project or help with training your people – and keep them safe.