States urged to impose total ban on mobile phone use in cars

TOUGH new laws to ban all mobile phone use in vehicles are being considered by transport ministers after a landmark report found that even hands-free devices dramatically increased the risk of crashing.

The report by state transport heads reflects the growing concern about distraction to drivers involved in accidents.

It found: ''Mobile phone use produces a significant increase in casualty crash risk, regardless of whether the phone is hand-held or hands-free.''

The draft national road safety report comes amid a dramatic rise in the number of people fined for using a phone when behind the wheel, which has become one of the fastest-growing driving offences in the state.

Last financial year almost 50,000 drivers were fined more than $11 million for calling, texting, reaching, even touching their phone while driving - more than double the number fined six years ago.

The aim is to reduce annual road deaths by 30 per cent during the next decade.

The draft, which federal and state ministers are reviewing, stated: ''There is evidence to support bans on all mobile phone use while driving.'' The federal parliamentary secretary for infrastructure and transport, Catherine King, said on average 1500 people died on Australian roads each year.

''We've come to the conclusion that we are going to have to do things differently if we are going to get that road toll lower,'' she said.

Ms King acknowledged it would be difficult for many people to stop using hands-free phones so the first step of the strategy would be to encourage drivers of heavy vehicles, buses, taxis and government cars to stop using the phone hands-free voluntarily.

NSW Police supported a ban. ''In my view it is as dangerous as speed and drink driving,'' said Superintendent Max Mitchell, the acting assistant commissioner, traffic services branch. During the past decade research has clearly demonstrated that drivers using mobile phones are at least four times more likely to have an accident.

In 2006 US researchers found that being distracted by a mobile phone was the equivalent of having a blood-alcohol level of 0.08, which is considered over the limit in every Australian state.

In NSW, being caught handling a mobile phone will earn a driver a $258 fine and three demerit points.

But many believe this does not go far enough. In US state of Utah, a driver caught texting can receive a three-month jail sentence and a $US750 fine. If they injure or kill someone they could go to jail for 15 years.

Mark Stevenson, an epidemiologist who studies driving distractions, said allowing hands-free phone use to remain legal sent the wrong message.

Several of his studies, including one examining the number of people admitted to hospital after a mobile phone-related crash, had shown using a phone hands-free carried almost the same

crash risk as using it hand held. ''We are very aware of the risks associated with using your phone,'' said Professor Stevenson, from the Monash University accident research centre.

He called for more drastic intervention and tougher penalties. ''Vehicles could be manufactured with in-built blockers so drivers cannot receive phone reception when the car is turned on.''

In cases of emergency, drivers could switch off the engine to make a phone call, he said.

An online survey of Victorian drivers found almost 60 per cent of people who owned a mobile phone admit using it while driving. The leader of the research, Kristie Young, said most people recognised that using a phone while driving was dangerous.

''But drivers seem to have this optimistic bias where they don't think it will happen to them, or they are better than the average driver,'' said Dr Young, a research fellow at the accident research centre.

''Drivers have this really low perception that they are going to be caught,'' she said.