Fleets are being urged to make their drivers aware of new rules for using a mobile phone while driving after exclusive research suggested a high level of ignorance.
The UK Government announced late last year that it would tighten the rules on the use of mobile phones, making it illegal to use a hand-held device under virtually any circumstance while driving. It was already illegal to text or make a phone call (other than in an emergency) using a hand-held device while driving. However, now the law has been updated to reflect smartphone technology and the different ways people use them. For example, drivers are not able to handle their phone to scroll through a playlist or send, receive or upload a video.
Two-out-of-five respondents to a Fleet News poll (42%) said they were not aware the Government was updating the legislation, while a further one-in-20 (5%) knew the law was being tightened, but thought it was not happening for six months or more.
Reassuringly, almost half (46%) of respondents recognised that the law was being overhauled, but one-in-10 of those did not have a clue what was included in the new legislation.
Seven-out-of-10 respondents (73%) correctly said that drivers will now not be able to handle their phones in virtually all circumstances, but only 39% knew a mobile phone would have to be secured in a cradle when using it as a sat-nav.
A similar amount (37%) also accurately identified that the new rules make it illegal to send, receive or upload a photo or video on a phone while behind the wheel.
Just one-in-10 thought, incorrectly, that the new laws would prevent making a hands-free call.
With so many drivers in the dark, a high number are at risk of falling foul of the law and ending up with points on their licence.
