IAM Fleet and Drive & Survive are calling on transport managers to clamp down on mobile phone usage behind the wheel following the publication of yesterday's (4 February) official figures for mobile phone use from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Simon Elstow, head of training at IAM Fleet and Drive & Survive, said: 'All drivers should resist temptation of using their phone whilst driving. Transport managers, and those responsible for transport should ensure their drivers resist calling whilst driving, even with hands-free kits, which although technically legal are still a major distraction. And that can mean creating a culture where by staff who are out driving are not rung routinely by their office.

'Along with consistent and high profile policing, drivers need to be educated about how, and why driving on the phone is so dangerous.

'Deaths and injuries linked to mobile phone use wreck lives and are completely avoidable. The majority of road users deserve to be protected from an irresponsible and selfish minority and enforcement is, in our view, the key weapon against them.'