Health, Safety and Environment
Mobile Phone use Whilst Driving for BT
Complaints have been received from members of the public concerning drivers of BT vehicles observed using hand held mobile phones whilst driving.
THIS BEHAVIOUR IS AGAINST BT RULES; AGAINST THE LAW; AND SOCIALLY AND MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
In a recent case a Guilbert Stationery delivery driver was jailed for three years. He killed another motorist when he crashed his van while talking on his hand-held mobile phone. The court heard that his company had a strict policy outlawing the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. The company was not charged. Even tougher penalties are likely to be handed down in the future.
Within BT the policy on mobile phone use is contained in the "Driving at Work" section
(SFY/HSH/C021) of The Health and Safety Handbook at:
SFY/HSH/C021
YOU MUST NOT USE HANDHELD PHONES WHILST DRIVING.
BT allows the use of Hands-Free Mobile Phones whilst driving, but their use must be MINIMISED and is limited as follows:
THE USE OF MOBILE PHONES FOR CONFERENCE CALLS WHILST DRIVING IS PROHIBITED. WHEREVER POSSIBLE, AVOID TAKING CALLS WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU MUST, SAY YOU ARE DRIVING AND END THE CONVERSATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
Also:
- Ensure your Voicemail is activated,
- Make critical calls before you start your journey,
- Set up automatic diverts to other team members,
- Pull over to take/make calls,
- Take regular breaks to deal with calls and messages,
- Ask your passengers to take and make calls on your behalf.
IF YOU HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO MAKE CALLS ON YOUR HANDS-FREE MOBILE WHILST DRIVING:
- Use voice-activated dialling if available,
- Inform the person on the other end of the line that you are driving,
- Keep calls short, specific and to the point,
- Do not have any qualms about ceasing talking when you need to concentrate totally on your driving.
ALL DISTRACTIONS WHILST DRIVING MUST BE MINIMISED BECAUSE ANY DISTRACTION CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF POOR CONCENTRATION AND A SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT.
Driver Distractions may also include such things as:
- Conducting a telephone conversation of any sort,
- Reading maps/documents,
- Using mobile communication devices (e.g.: phones, laptops, Blackberries, in-car navigation systems),
- Changing CD’s/tapes.
Planning each aspect of your journey (including breaks from driving, music, communications and route) before you start will reduce the likelihood of being distracted.
BT WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY BREACHES OF THE LAW OR BT INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE USE OF MOBILE PHONES IN VEHICLES. ANY EVIDENCE, INCLUDING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER ROAD USERS, OF BT EMPLOYEES BREAKING THESE RULES WILL BE TREATED WITH THE UTMOST SERIOUSNESS.