October 2007

1,100 offenders prove mobile phone driving law is a farce

The law to stop drivers using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel has been proven to be totally ineffective by a road safety website.

Since the ban was introduced in February this year, 1,119 drivers have been spotted using a mobile and reported to BetterDrivingPlease.com.

It’s a website where anyone can report bad driving they have seen. Incredibly, nearly a quarter of all its reports involve a mobile phone.

Founder Andrew McGavin said the website is placing pressure upon the police to act.

He said: “Ordinary people want something done about this. They are sick of seeing drivers flout the law so openly.

“The pressure created by reports placed on BetterDrivingPlease.com will force the police to recognise that traffic policing can’t be done by speed cameras alone. Policing in-between cameras is failing.

“The ability for anyone to highlight dangerous driving on BetterDrivingPlease.com is creating a catalyst for change.”

The website displays all reports of bad driving for anyone to see.

Go to www.BetterDrivingPlease.com and type ‘mobile’ into the white search box to see reports involving a mobile phone.

Research released in September showed that using a mobile phone behind the wheel could be worse than drink driving.

Motorists using mobile phones were found to be four times more likely to crash – even if they had a hands free kit.

Andrew added: “It’s no longer socially acceptable to drink and drive, yet we seem to tolerate drivers focusing more on their phone call than the road in front of them. This has to be tackled and it is the police’s job to act.

ENDS

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The September research was released by yesinsurance.co.uk
• For any further information, quotes or interviews, a BetterDrivingPlease.com spokesman is available. Please email press@publicityheaven.com or call Paul Green on 08452 303049
• To find specific reports of bad driving, go to www.BetterDrivingPlease.com and enter the area in the Keyword search box
• You are welcome to publish any information you find on the website
• A factfile, logo, screenshots and other press resources are available online at http://www.betterdrivingplease.com/press.asp