Handsfree Communication

LEGISLATION UPDATE:  In-Car Mobile Phone Ban from 1 Nov '09

It will be illegal for New Zealand drivers to talk or send text messages on handheld mobile phones while driving from November 1, 2009.

Drivers using hand held mobile phone and smartphone devices would be liable for an $80 fine and 20 demerit points.

According to statistics, there were 25 fatal crashes and 482 injury crashes between 2003 and 2008 where the use of a mobile device was a factor.

The ban will not cover hands-free devices or two-way radio, and there will be an exemption for 111 calls made in emergency situations. Transport Minister Mr Stephen Joyce said the excemption for hands-free devices was necessary because many business and trades people depended on them for work.

A ban on hand-held  mobile phone use for vehicle drivers will bring New Zealand into line with international road safety standards – at least 45 countries, including most in the European Union, the United Kingdom and Australia have already introduced legislation to ban the use of mobile phones while driving.

What that means for you as a business

The introduction of Handsfree legislation will mean that businesses must include a handsfree and mobile usage guidelines into their Company Vehicle and Health and Safety policies. Businesses will have to provide staff that work on the road, with the option of a handsfree device or restrictions ensuring they are not permitted to take calls while driving.

Orb Communications recommend that businesses start planning now for this pending change. A simple checklist of your current mobile workforce will provide a snapshot of potential requirements:

• How many staff do you have on the road during business hours?
• How much time do they spend dealing with phone calls & messages while driving?
• Can these calls be diverted or handled elsewhere?
• Are vehicles shared between staff?
• Could the time spent in cars be used more productively?

This will ensure you have a detailed understanding of what your requirements will be under the new legislation. It is also an opportunity to review work habits and identify whether by implementing a handsfree solution now may make them more productivity and safety conscious today, rather than waiting for the upcoming legislation next year.

There are many handsfree options that can either be hardwired (usually requiring installation by professionals) or, Portable Bluetooth giving you the freedom to setup yourself and transfer between vehicles and handsets. Many of the handsfree kits today have a range of smart features which make them even simpler to use:

• Auto connect when you get in the car
• One touch or voice activated dialling
• Synchronising of phone contacts
• Auto mute of your stereo on incoming calls

Please Note:  Orb Communications recognises that there are occasions when driving circumstances make talking on a mobile - hand held or handsfree - unsafe.  In these circumstances, motorists should pull over or hang up to protect the safety of themsleves, their passengers, and others on the road.

Handsfree Safety Tips ► What is Bluetooth?