Vehicles 'should not be used as mobile offices'

Satellite navigation, mobile phones and other in-car technology systems were all seeking to divert drivers' attention, according to psychologist Dr Graham Hole.

Dr Hole, a senior lecturer at the University of Sussex, has called for mobile phones to be banned from cars altogether, claiming that hands-free sets do not make the roads any safer. He explorers the issue further in his new book entitled 'The Psychology Of Driving' - available next month.

He said: "The Government should have banned mobile phones in cars altogether. It has sent out the wrong message by abolishing hand-held phones because this gives the impression that hands-free phones are safe.

"The problem with mobile phones is not vehicular control and only having one hand on the wheel, but rather it is taking away attention from what is happening outside the car."

"Myths" about older people making worse drivers and claims that younger people have an improved reaction time are also examined in Dr Hole's book.

On the spread of modern in-car technology, he said: "We need to be very careful about how we go about handling modern technology in cars, because we are opening a Pandora's Box.

"When anyone is driving there is a lot of information outside the car and if there is too much going on inside then there is a danger of overloading the driver."

'Sat-nav' consultation

Meanwhile, the Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a consultation into the use of in-vehicle information systems such as satellite navigation.

The DfT said it was particularly interested in the safety of the human-machine interface and driver distraction, as well as the "use of suitable routeing algorithms" - in other words favouring the most appropriate roads.

Frances Evans, of the transport technology and standards division of the DfT, said the Department was seeking views on current legislation and what options for change might be considered appropriate.

A questionnaire, issued as part of the consultation exercise asks for opinion on the "best way" to tackle driver distraction and/or routeing concerns? Options put forward range from the introduction of regulations, to the issuing of Government guidelines and an industry code of practice.

The consultation also covers issues for the driver information systems industry, such as licensing, the introduction of a "self-compliance scheme" and whether the Government should be involved in examining the safety of route guidance devices on the UK market?

The consultation period runs until 9 January 2007, at which time responses will be considered "in developing any firm proposal for change". See link above/right.