Van driver warning in mobile crackdown

Van drivers are being targeted by the government as it kicks off its campaign to stop people making phone calls while driving.

The road safety campaign will home in on the UK's three million-strong army of 'white van men' in an attempt to reduce road deaths and casualties from in-car calls.

Around 200 road deaths and serious injuries in the UK each week involve someone who is at work, according to government research.

Callers who ring drivers on their mobiles will also be urged to hang up and phone back later as part of TV ads running the slogan: 'If they're driving, kill the conversation'.

Stephen Ladyman, road safety minister, said employers must take responsibility for managing the safety of their staff when out on the road. Drivers can take their attention off the road if their bosses ring them on their mobiles.

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Separate government research revealed last week that nearly one in four UK bosses could find themselves liable for prosecution if their workers use a mobile for work-related calls while driving.

The government also launched a website offering advice and good practice for employers who want to buff up their driving policies as part of the campaign.

The national 'THINK! Driving for work' campaign will focus on removing many of the hazards van drivers face during a working day - such as answering mobile phones, stress and fatigue.

Drivers and their bosses will also be encouraged to plan journeys better in a bid to tackle speeding.

On 27 February the punishment for using a handheld mobile while driving increased to £60 and three penalty points on the driving licence. Nearly one-third of employers are not aware of the harsher penalties, according to separate research from an online YouGov survey of UK employers.