A Q&A with Santa, and Fleet Manager Mrs Claus, of North Pole Inc
We all know using your mobile phone at the wheel isn't the cleverest of ideas. Yes, a lot of people are probably confident enough in their own driving ability to do it, but that doesn't mean they should. As a driver, you already have enough to think about without checking to see how many likes that picture of your Dog you posted on Facebook received or tweeting about that terrible movie you watched last night.However, due to a new initiative soon to be rolled out in Norfolk, people who use their mobile devices whilst driving could be in for shock as signs that can detect the use of a mobile phone in a vehicle are to shortly be rolled out following a successful trial.
However, due to a new initiative soon to be rolled out in Norfolk, people who use their mobile devices whilst driving could be in for shock as signs that can detect the use of a mobile phone in a vehicle are to shortly be rolled out following a successful trial.
Norfolk County Council, the police and road safety group Think! have teamed up to develop the system in reply to local citizens' who complained about phone usage by motorists.
The system works by the implementation of a roadside sensor that monitors oncoming vehicles and sends information to the sign. If a phone within the car is active, the sign flashes to inform the driver that it is aware that a device within the vehicle is being used. It is currently unable to differentiate between drivers, passengers and legal hands-free systems which has garnered criticism of the preciseness of the project.
At present there is currently no fine or punishment in place for those who are caught by the sign so we spoke with Iain Temperton, Transport and Development Manager at Norfolk County Council, to ask if he believes the sign will be an effective deterrent?
"This project is part of a wider scheme to try and encourage people to think more about the use of mobile phones behind the wheel.
The aim is to try and make motorists more conscious of the dangers of distractions whilst driving. We think of the sign as more of a supplement to a wider road safety project than a deterrent at present" Temperton told Teletrac Navman in February.
Fleet managers and business owners have continuously expressed their worries about the prospect of staff using mobile phones whilst driving. Hopefully with initiatives like this coupled with continued education the roads will soon see a decrease in the number of drivers using their phones behind the wheel.