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Select committee: Transport Committee

Road safety: mobile phones inquiry

Closed Opened 11 Jun 2019 Closed 1 Nov 2019

Transport Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
Read the report: Road safety: driving while using a mobile phone [HTML] Read the report: Road safety: driving while using a mobile phone [PDF] Read the response: Road safety: driving while using a mobile phone [HTML] Read the response: Road safety: driving while using a mobile phone [PDF] As part of its wider inquiry into road safety , the Transport Committee is taking evidence on road safety and mobile phones. The Committee will consider: Use of mobile phones by drivers and the risks this poses The adequacy of legislation relating to mobile phone use by motorists How enforcement and education around mobile phone use can be improved.

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 11 June 2019.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 12th Report - Road safety: driving while using a mobile phone on 13 August 2019.

The government's response

Published 1 November 2019.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government accepts, "in principle", the recommendation to redefine the hand-held mobile phone offence and says it will review it, but it sets out reasons for not committing to a hands-free ban and "does not fully accept" the recommendation on government drivers.

  • On the hand-held offence, it "will review" it "with a view to updating it", and "would, of course, consult before making any change". It expects proposals for a way forward "by Spring 2020".
  • On hands-free use, it acknowledges the risks but cites enforcement that "would be hugely problematic" and says the work "would take time". It plans instead to seek views through the roads policing review and consider Highway Code changes.
  • On penalties, it says it is "cautious about increasing penalties further, especially after just two years", though it will consider the current penalties as part of its review of the offence.
  • On the roads policing review, it "accepts the principle" of the recommendation but says the review "is not geared to providing an operational response" to this issue.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 1 oral evidence sessionLatest 12 June 2019
All evidence

Recent activity

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

1 session

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Date Session and witnesses Source
12 Jun 2019
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded 		View ↗