I recorded an interview for Tonight with Trevor MacDonald about 10 days ago in London, but my contact there thinks I've ended up on the cutting room floor.
driver skill. Often we talk about 'concentration' instead, but of course that's
the other side of the same coin. Some estimates put driver distraction as a
to ensure that the road always has sufficient attention. With the attention
capacity for other tasks. Many of these other tasks are routine and perfectly
'don'ts' simply isn't productive. Instead we must help drivers to manage
ahead. Since this is 'skill based' rather than 'rules based' we run the risk of
what drivers are doing with their hands. Being in proper control is much more a
CONFUSED MOTORISTS DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW SAYS SWINTONComplete confusion exists on Britain's roads as clueless drivers are mystified
over what constitutes legal and illegal behaviour behind the wheel says
Swinton.
Figures revealed by the leading high street insurance retailer highlight
widespread confusion surrounding what constitutes a driving offence on today's
roads and the broker is calling for a tighter definition of the law to prevent
drivers getting points on their licence or being disqualified.
Over three quarters of drivers think it's perfectly legal to change a CD, hold
a partner's hand or light a cigarette when driving whereas nearly two thirds of
people think it's illegal to apply lipstick when behind the wheel.
The population is split over whether it's legal to eat a sandwich at the wheel
or not, with 51% of the 2,400 drivers questioned in a YouGov survey
commissioned by Swinton considering this as illegal behaviour.
The truth is that any of these, or other acts including reading a map on your
lap or resting your arms on the steering wheel could be considered illegal in
the eyes of the law if the driver is deemed not to be in full control of the
vehicle.
Swinton's motor insurance division is concerned that this level of
misunderstanding could result in drivers unwittingly breaking the law - facing
a hefty fine or even disqualification for driving without due care and
attention.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 states that, "If a person drives a motor vehicle on a
road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for
other persons using the road, he is guilty of an offence."; Punishments for
careless and inconsiderate driving can include a maximum fine of £2,500, up to
nine points on your licence or disqualification*.
Swinton's chief executive, Patrick Smith said: "We are warning drivers to be
vigilant when behind the wheel because the law is so ambiguous. Unwittingly
breaking this law could result in points - again piling up the number of
penalty points people already have on their licence because of speed cameras."
Chris Collings, insurer development director at Swinton said: "Our survey
reveals the extent of confusion surrounding what people can and can't do at the
wheel. Drivers need to completely understand the principal road safety laws if
they are to adhere to them - not knowing whether an act is legal or illegal is
an extremely dangerous position for drivers to be in."
"Nearly all drivers questioned know that it's illegal to use a mobile phone
when driving, which is good news but we need to gain this level of certainty
for all the other actions undertaken."
"Whether a person is in full control of a vehicle or not remains at the
discretion of a police officer and is therefore ambiguous. The confusion
highlighted in our survey must be removed so that safe, law-abiding drivers
aren't unwittingly acting illegally."
Efforts to dispel the confusion comes as the Driving Standards Authority
proposes 30 new rules to add to the new edition of the highway code - including
smoking at the wheel. Breaking these rules can result in drivers being handed a
fixed penalty of up to £60, at the discretion of the police**.
- ENDS -
* Information according to motoring offence lawyers, lawyersmotoringlaw.co.uk
www.lawyersmotoringlaw.co.uk <http://www.lawyersmotoringlaw.co.uk>
** Information according to the Driving Standards Authority
www.dsa.gov.uk <
http://www.dsa.gov.uk>
Notes to editors
The YouGov survey, commissioned by Swinton, consisted of 2,408 drivers from
across the UK
Survey results
Question: Which, if any, of the following actions do you think are currently
UNLAWFUL to do while driving a car?
Action %
Holding your mobile phone to your ear and having a conversation 94
Send a text message 86
Watching a DVD movie on the screen on the dashboard 75
Reading a map on your lap 65
Applying lipstick or makeup 57
Eating a sandwich 51
Making a 'v'; sign at a bad driver 29
Resting your arms on the steering wheel 26
Lighting a cigarette 25
Holding your partner's hand 25
Changing a CD or tape 24
Watching the screen of a satellite navigation system on the dashboard 20
Changing the volume by twiddling the car stereo control 15
Carrying a crate of beer on the back seat 8
Singing along to music 1
None of these 1
Some important issues raised in this little lot. Comments?
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) but even that would be perfectly safe if the car was stopped in a queue of traffic.
