• The use of mobile phones whilst driving has been illegal since 2003.
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) state that "Drivers who were using a mobile phone were 9 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident."
• "Driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people do... around 150 people are killed every week someone
  who was driving for work." RoSPA
• RoSPA also point out that "Using hands-free phone while driving does not significantly reduce the risks because the problems are caused mainly by the distraction and divided attention of taking part in a phone conversation."
• "18% of injury crashes were reported as distraction-related crashes." US Government.
• The National Safety Council (NSC) in the USA note that "text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse that driving while not distracted." (US Government Distraction).
• "Sending or receiving text while driving takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds" (US Government Distraction). At just 45mph that is 100 yards without looking.
• The NSC estimates 21 percent of crashes or 1.1 million crashes in 2010 involve talking on handheld and hands-free cell phones.
• "It has been estimated that up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve somebody who is at work at the time. This may account for 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries every week". (Health and Safety Executive publication "Driving At Work" INDG382).
• According to the Department of Transport in the UK, 3% of car drivers and 5% of van and lorry drivers use their mobile phones (either hands free or not) at any given time during the day on week days. With lower percentages in the evenings and at weekends, this is clearly business use.
• The Corporate Manslaughter Act means employers can be prosecuted if there is a death of an employee which could have been prevented by proper and sensible procedures.

Almost every company with more than 6 empoyees will have published a Work Related Road Safety policy as this is required under Health and Safety legislation.

This policy will normally address the use of mobile phones whilst driving on business, and typically states that employees should either:

• turn their mobile phone off when driving (as RoSPA recommends)
• or only make and receive calls via hands free

What is clear however is that employees are not adhering to policy. For example according to the Department of Transport in the UK, 3% of car drivers and 5% of van and lorry drivers use their mobile phones (either hands free or not) at any given time during the day on week days. With lower percentages in the evenings and at weekends, this is clearly business use.

Most companies believe that having a policy in place is sufficient to protect them in the event of an accident. Or, in the case of a fatal accident, that having a policy would protect them from a prosecution for Corporate Manslaughter.

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. For the first time, companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a Duty of Care. The definition of Duty of Care is detailed here.

If an employee has a fatal accident whilst driving a company vehicle, the definition of company vehicle does not only include vehicles provided by or to the company, but possibly an employee's own vehicle if it is being used for work purposes (also known as ‘Grey Fleet’). If the employee is convicted of a motoring offence when driving a car on company business, the company may also be held responsible.

A company therefore needs to ask, “How can we make policy a reality?” not only to protect their employees but also their Company.

The implementation of the unique software, Romex, can assist your company in compliance with the Health and Safety Executive. This will minimize the risk of a prosecution under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act.

Benefits

• Improves employee safety – reduces injuries and deaths
• Reduces accidents – savings by avoiding lost working time, ‘Bent Metal’ costs and lower insurance premiums
• Ability to send urgent instructions avoids loss of productivity
• Improves legislative compliance – most likely cause of prosecution for Corporate Manslaughter
• Makes company policy on restricted use of mobile phones whilst driving a reality

Features

• Prevents making and receiving calls (999 calls allowed)
• Prevents texting, emailing and messaging (e.g. social media)
• Triggered by driving (>6 mph) automatically – no other hardware
• Typically starts within 1 minute – cuts off current call
• Returns to normal within 2 minutes of a complete stop (illegal use at traffic lights or in traffic)
• Allows employer to send urgent message without distraction
• Identifies and reports abuse (e.g. when mobile app is deleted)

Romex (Romex World Ltd) is an innovative technology company specialising in mobile workforce management solutions, providing both risk management and compliance as well as improving productivity, efficiency and customer service and reducing costs.

Business mileage validation, reducing the risk of fines, controlling excess overtime claims and a compliance solution all contribute to financial savings for a business and will generate a profit centre.

Key product benefits

• Reduced the risk of HMRC fines associated with inaccurate business mileage claims
• Ensure legislative compliance relating to Road Related Road Safety (INDG 382) and Lone Worker (INDG 73)
• Duty of Care and Compliance in accordance with HSE Directives
• Improve employee management – timesheet, overtime, invoice validation as well as monitoring movement via vehicle either driven, public transport or on foot
• Cost saving with a reduction in inaccurate business miles, overtime, administration costs and speed related fuel savings
• Increased company efficiency / productivity
• Guaranteed service levels and accountability to clients