It’s your call

Did you know that if you use a mobile phone whilst driving you are 4 times more likely to crash?

Even if you are a careful driver you could be distracted by a phone call or text message and in that split second lapse of concentration you could have a crash. Your reactions are around 50% slower when using a handsfree mobile than when compared with normal driving.

Did you know that using any type of mobile, whether it is handsfree or handheld means your reaction times are worse than those driving under the influence of alcohol? The chart below shows average stopping distances for mobile phone use.

Is the call more important than your life?

• Divert calls to your messenger service and check your calls every couple of hours if you are on a long journey.
• Have the phone in the car but not take any calls, you can pull over when it is safe to do so and return any urgent calls.
• Let people know you do not answer calls whilst driving. Arrange a code for any urgent calls, for example ask them to call three times for a set number of rings, this way you can pull over when it is safe to do so and return their call.
• If you need to make a call pull over at a safe place (not the hard-shoulder).

Have a go at the Think! drive challenge to see how well you do at driving and talking on a mobile phone at the same time.

Is the answer to your question really that important?

As a caller you play an important role. You wouldn’t want to distract the person you are calling from their driving and increase their risk of crashing.

If you call a person on their mobile check that they are not driving. If they are driving:

• Say you’ll call them later and hang up
• Ask them to return your call when they have stopped driving

Is a text really as important as your safety or that of other road users?

Not only is texting whilst driving illegal it is also very dangerous your attention is diverted to your phone and you are not concentrating on your driving, which greatly increases your chance of crashing.

Never read or send a text whilst driving, it’s just not worth the risk.

When can you make or receive calls using a hand-held phone?

• In response to a genuine emergency where it is unsafe or impracticable to stop you are allowed to call 999
• When you are safely parked
• If you are a passenger in a vehicle

What counts as 'driving'?

Driving is using a motor vehicle on the road and can include when a vehicle is stopped at traffic lights or during a traffic hold-up. Therefore you should not use that time to make or receive a call. Park safely (but not on the motorway hard shoulder) and then use the phone.