The speedy march of technology in recent decades has granted us an incredible number of conveniences previously thought the preserve of science fiction.
One of the most transformative has been the development of the mobile phone.
In the 1980s, people were amazed at the ability to make calls while on the go, albeit from a device which was as heavy and portable as a large house brick.
Over the intervening years, the capabilities of such devices have grown as they have shrunk in size to something which fits neatly into the palms of our hands.
No longer simply able to make voice calls, they effectively provide all the means of communication which we might possibly require for personal and professional life: e-mails, internet, cameras, social media apps and much more.
However, there is a cost and not just in terms of the contracts and connection charges needed to be part of the smartphone revolution.
Above and beyond any informal, consequence-free etiquette, there are strict legal controls in terms of how they may be used, given their ability to act as a distraction.
That has been illustrated only in the last week or so due to coverage of a crash involving an American social media influencer, Jack Doherty.
He was roundly criticised for wrecking his McLaren car while using his ‘phone, an incident which not only damaged the vehicle but left his passenger with a bloodied face.
The problem of mobile ‘phone use behind the wheel is far from confined to the US.
Figures published by the Department for Transport (DfT) in May this year revealed that two years ago, 22 people were killed and 652 injured in road accidents in which driver use of mobile ‘phones was a factor.
That is despite an amendment to the law which came into force in March 2022 and carried the prospect of stiffer sanctions for those found guilty of such offences.
Under a law which had been in place since 2003, motorists could be penalised for using a hand-held ‘phone.
Yet experts regarded the fact that it only applied to so-called ‘interactive communication’, such as making a call, rendered it inadequate, given the far larger range of tasks which can be performed by devices created since that date.
Now, people caught using a handheld device to make calls, send texts, using apps or even checking the time could face a fine of up to £1,000 as well as six points on their driving licence or perhaps even a ban from the road.
The latest figures would suggest that the threat might not be enough of a deterrent.
Data released by the Home Office this April showed that the number of fixed penalty notices handed out for mobile ‘phone use across the whole of 2022 was more than double the number in 2019.
Conclusions drawn from roadside observations of driver behaviour nationwide also demonstrated certain patterns of usage.
Drivers under the age of 30 are more than four times as likely as those over 60 to use a mobile ‘phone at the wheel.
Such behaviour was more likely among men than women and was greater in the evenings than during the day.
What is more, mobile ‘phone use was higher among van and lorry drivers than those in charge of cars.
That latter point has a variety of potential implications for businesses.
The prospect of injury to staff or others and damage to vehicles involved in crashes owing to the use of mobile ‘phones carries an obvious physical and financial impact.
To that can be added the costs associated with higher insurance premiums and trade lost as a result of brand reputations taking a hit.
In addition, firms could be held jointly liable if one of their drivers has an accident while using a ‘phone for work business.
It is more than common sense, therefore, to both have a company policy prohibiting the use of mobile ‘phones while driving and to make sure that it is regularly checked to ensure that it remains up-to-date.
In some cases, it might be advisable for businesses with employees who have a history of bad driving to remove them from situations where they may reoffend in this way.
Some companies which see a lot of commercial driving may regard personal poor conduct on the road as something worthy of dismissal altogether.
Mobile ‘phones are now so ubiquitous and reflexively relied upon that it might seem tempting to take a call, especially when police cameras are not around.
Even so, there are usually other vehicles around and, as we have seen, taking your eyes off the road for a split-second can have life-changing consequences.
Written by Joe Hooper, Client Executive – Corporate Clients, Broadway Insurance Brokers