UK driving law to be ignored by 1/3 of driver
Swindon, UK. - The new UK driving legislation, which will make it illegal for drivers to hold and talk on a mobile phone whilst driving from December 1st , is set to be ignored by up to a third of those who drive and regularly use their mobile - according to research conducted by Plantronics – the world’s leading mobile communication headset manufacturers.
Research commissioned by Plantronics, and undertaken by market research agency Taylor Nelson Sofres, showed, alarmingly, that the Department of Transport tough stance on mobile phone use whilst driving is falling on deaf ears.
Over 30% of respondents who admitted to making and receiving calls whilst driving went onto say that they would not consider the use of a handsfree kit, including a headset - meaning they are not only endangering other road users and pedestrians, but also find themselves liable to a £30 fixed penalty, a £1000 fine and even a possible jail sentence.
The research also found that 59% of those participating are unclear about the new laws, indicating the Government has a long way to go before its message is communicated effectively to the mass population.
Graham Tebb, Plantronics’ legislation spokesperson commented, “As the world’s leading headset manufacturer, Plantronics believes, first and foremost, that anyone who needs to make a call whilst in control of any vehicle should, at a safe moment and in a safe place, pull over to the side of the road to do so. However, Plantronics also recognises that under certain circumstances this is not always going to be possible and therefore believes that the public should invest in a headset that will offer the best sound quality, allowing drivers to concentrate on the road and drive responsibly at all times. We have a range of headsets with noise-cancelling technology, which improve the accuracy of voice-dialling and voice-activated services enabling compliance with the legislation “
To learn more about the Government’s new legislation go to www.behandsfree.co.uk and you also get the chance to win a brand new MINI® Cooper!!
For additional comment from a Plantronics spokesperson in relation to the new driving legislation or for further information about the range of Plantronics mobile headsets, please contact either:
Mark Ward / Ed Fleming
Republic
020 7379 5000
mark@republicpr.com/edwardf@republicpr.com
Notes to Editors:
- The research was conducted by TNS Omninas on a face to face basis.
- The research was nationwide and conducted between adults from October 3-7.
- The number of respondents participating in the research was 1,040.
About Plantronics
Plantronics introduced the first lightweight communications headset in 1962 and is recognized as the world leader in communications headsets. A publicly held company with approximately 2,500 employees, Plantronics is the leading provider of headsets to telephone companies and the business community worldwide. Plantronics headsets have been featured in numerous motion pictures and high-profile events, including Neil Armstrong’s historic “One small step for man” transmission from the moon in 1969. Plantronics, Inc., headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, was founded in 1961 and maintains offices in 20 countries. Plantronics products are sold and supported through a worldwide network of authorized Plantronics marketing partners. Information about the company and its products can be found at www.plantronics.com or by calling 0800 410014.
