Using Mobile Phone When Driving

[Monkey]

At work we have just had a new ammendment ot he health and safety manual and ita bout using a Mobile Phone when driving on Company Time (IMO very late ammendment)

i do agree using a hand held phone whilst driving a Vehicle to be dangerous, but the use of a hands free kit acceptable, i have installed Parrot hands free kits in both of my cars,

As my car is a personal vehicle with a handsfree kit that i purchased and fitted, the company are banning me from using it whislt driving on company time, there is no reason given,

the passage on it says:

unauthorised hands-free vehicle kits (eg employees own kits) must not be used whilst driving on company business.

ok this is fine i dont answer the phone when driving on company time, but how can they tell me what to do in my car with my stuff, i know when im on company time i come under their banner, but i have made sure im fully legal should a phone call come in whilst driving

there has been no specification of the handsfree kits that are recommended (im too low a grade to get one, plus i dont have a company car) and i can bet that my kits are far superior to the recommended ones (probably some bluetooth headset).

it just annoys me that they can force such a thing on me as an employee, i know this wont get policed within the company, but its just annoying

[manic_mechanic]

Don't sweat it mate, when you're an old git like me you'll realise that biting when some sad no-life further up the food chain decides to pointlessly exercise his power just stresses you for no good result. Personally I don't want to answer the phone when I'm driving anyway and get a big grin from ignoring it! Just think the same sad little hitler is probably totally hen-pecked at home - most tw@ttish bosses are in my experience! :D

[SMiFFAD]

Weve had said rule in force for years now, not allowed to use any type of phone or equipment whilst driveing on company business, even our own cars etc.

Instant dismissal as well if your found doing it :eek:

[Richy_Boy]

It's just general policy and comes under "cover their arse". For example, if you were in an accident and the police found speaking / answering your phone to be the cause you can prosecuted for it... and you happened to mention it was work calling and they force you to pick up the phone - then they're liable for prosecution too.

I wrote the same policy for our company; handed out hands-free kits and then got everyone to sign a disclaimer saying they were not to answer the phone while driving AT ALL. :wack: (We supply both bluetooth headsets and car kits to all company mobile users)

They still do call whilst driving when working and even use our equipment to do so, however, we told them not to and they signed an agreement... so the ball is in their court if the cops cause problems. :D

Rich