Tackling the cost of mobile phone distraction behind the wheel

Using a smartphone when driving makes you four times more likely to have a collision. Despite this, illegal mobile device usage is surging, particularly among younger drivers. This represents a huge and growing risk to fleet operations that have a responsibility to safeguard their drivers, business and other road users.

Mobile phone driving laws

On the UK road network, it is illegal to hold and use a mobile phone or any handheld device while driving. The penalties for being caught include a £200 fine and six points on your licence, while new drivers face having their licence revoked if it occurs within two years of passing their test. If the case goes to court, the driver could also be banned from driving and receive a maximum fine of £1,000, which increases to £2,500 for bus and HGV drivers.

Photograph: iStock/nd3000

As of March 2022, the laws were updated to increase the deterrent, close loopholes and address a wider range of mobile device uses. Consequently, these laws now cover making or sending text messages, but also checking notifications, browsing the Internet, taking photos or videos, and other app-based functions. Drivers can still use devices hands-free, and there are some other exceptions such as calling emergency services when it is unsafe or impractical to stop.

Businesses, meanwhile, have a duty of care to ensure they are meeting health and safety standards across their fleet operation, and could be held liable in the event of a collision involving one of their vehicles. The result of non-compliance can be significant, with potential fines representing at least 20 per cent of turnover and even a custodial sentence for those in charge. A business must also consider other implications including increased insurance costs, staff shortages due to banned drivers, and reputational damage.

The scale of the problem

The tougher laws have so far failed to provide an adequate deterrent, with a 93 per cent year-on-year increase in drivers caught using a mobile device. A total of 13,332 drivers were successfully prosecuted in England and Wales in 2023, compared with 6,990 drivers who were found guilty in 2022, representing a seven-year high.

Mobile device distraction is believed to contribute to as many as 40 per cent of vehicle collisions, but still a significant proportion of drivers openly admit to using their smartphones behind the wheel. Worryingly, a quarter of all drivers admit to making or receiving voice calls illegally while driving, a figure which rises to 49 per cent of those aged 17 to 24. Worse still, almost a third of under-25s have admitted to video calling while driving.

Too many drivers continue to endanger lives by disregarding legal restrictions and engaging in hazardous behaviours, posing a significant challenge for fleet operators. The Department for Transport (DfT) has found that van drivers, in particular, are more than twice as likely to use their mobile phones while driving compared with other types of driver. Supporting this, a separate study revealed that 57 per cent of drivers admitted to checking their mobile phones while on the road.

Creating a zero-tolerance culture

Vehicle operators must address the dangers of mobile phone use while driving by implementing strict company policies as part of a comprehensive road safety strategy. These guidelines need to be clear – covering both business and personal devices – communicated effectively and consistently enforced. A significant risk for organisations is falling into complacency after implementing procedures. Instead, a continuous and proactive approach is necessary to address evolving legislative and operational challenges.

Any mobile phone policies should also be supported by driver training and engagement. An education programme needs to emphasise the dangers and legal consequences of mobile phone distractions, with drivers encouraged to focus on responsible driving above all else. This must be a two-way process where they are urged to communicate back any issues or concerns. For example, they should not feel pressured to take calls from the office when behind the wheel or respond immediately to an incoming message.

Enforcement should not always be about the threat of penalising offenders. Consider establishing an incentive scheme that rewards drivers for consistently demonstrating safe driving behaviours and adhering to mobile phone guidelines. This represents an effective way of reinforcing positive habits and helping to create a true zero-tolerance culture within a business.

Fleet technology solutions

Telematics has evolved to better target driver behaviour and fleet risk such as distracted driving. Monitoring harsh driving events can effectively identify underlying issues, and driver-facing cameras can determine if a mobile device was in use during a near miss or collision. However, this approach focuses on gaining insights after the incident and taking corrective action.

More recently, AI cameras have been introduced to identify and address distracted driving as it happens. These devices can detect dangerous behaviours such as mobile phone use, smoking, eating and eyes away from the road, providing immediate warnings to drivers, while fleet managers gain full visibility from the office. However, there have been some concerns among drivers around privacy as well as the frequency of false positives, where the technology may incorrectly identify actions. For instance, if a mobile phone use alert is triggered every time a driver touches their face, it undermines the camera’s effectiveness and can become an additional distraction for drivers.

Emerging blocking technology is expected to be one of the next breakthrough technologies in the fight against mobile phone distraction. It can be used as a standalone solution or be integrated with fleet and video telematics systems to enhance safety by preventing unauthorised access to smartphone apps and blocking notifications while driving. When the vehicle is in motion, this type of tool can automatically restrict encrypted messaging tools, the camera and other popular apps, and even prevent drivers using their smartphone when in stationary traffic.

Fleets need to remove the temptation for fleet drivers to take their eyes off the road and discourage illegal device usage. By removing distraction, fostering improved concentration and promoting a responsible driving attitude, it becomes possible to prevent many avoidable road injuries and deaths, while enhancing overall driver and fleet performance.

Mark Hadley is co-founder and chief executive of Blackout Technologies.

For more information see:

blackout-technologies.com