Mobile phones first appeared in Britain during the 1980s but were expensive and bulky. However, modern mobile phones are small, compact, easy to use and have become an essential part of life for many people. They enable people to maintain contact with family, friends and business associates. As well as the general communication benefits, access to a mobile phone also provides safety benefits by enabling people to alert breakdown or emergency services when necessary. However, there is considerable concern that using a mobile phone while driving creates a significant accident risk, to the user and to other people on the road, because it distracts the driver, impairs their control of the vehicle and reduces their awareness of what is happening on the road around them. This Review examines the effects that using a mobile phone while driving has on driving performance and on accident risk. It comprises: * a review of published research about the effects of using a mobile phone while driving; * a survey of Local Authorities and Police Forces seeking information about accidents in which mobile phone use has been implicated, and about education and enforcement campaigns; * a survey of laws restricting or prohibiting the use of mobile phones while driving; and * a sample of employer policies on the use of mobile phones by their staff while driving for work purposes. (Author/publisher)
Abstract