Ms Paula Hilman:

As part of the road safety partnership board, we discussed many of those issues. Regarding mobile phones, experience has shown that people are watching television programmes as well. We have seen this and we have talked about the enforcement vis-à-visthe legislation. There is careless driving, and then there is someone holding their mobile phone. There is the option to prosecute someone for not paying due care and attention when driving. However, we do see those careless attitudes changing.

Regarding the technology, yes, the driving could be looked at. There is technology that prevents a phone being used while driving. Another practical measure is at the initial stage of being considered. This is to use safety cameras for speeding, average speed, but also to monitor for non-wearing of seatbelts and mobile phone use. Other European jurisdictions use their safety cameras to detect people using their mobile phone and not wearing their seatbelt. That would take a long time and there would need to be consultation but our current technology could do that.