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Mobile madness
Page 7
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When it comes to mobile phones we're a nation of hypocrites. Yes, we all think it's dangerous to use one while driving, only sorry—I just need to make this important call. The proposal to ban hand-held mobile phones is right—a hands-free unit should be the very minimum specification for any mobile used in a truck. Ideally it should also have voice-activated dialling, along with "useless call suppression".
But anyone in this industry who thinks it's a problem only for drivers is deluding themselves. C.nlls may come out of the blue—but they don't come out of thin air. Hauliers who call their drivers knowing full well they're driving should stop to consider their contribution to the problem. If you call your driver, are you sure it's safe for him to answer?
Meanwhile, Minister for Road Safety David Jamieson has already warned that employers could be held responsible if they expect staff to take calls as part of their job. Oh really? What else do we expect if we give a driver a mobile phone? That it sits unused until the next convenient stop?