09/09/2005

Barclay Communications launches campaign for safer driving

Northern Ireland’s largest independent mobile phone account management company have called on company owners to protect employees while behind the wheel.

Barclay Communications said it wanted to help improve on local figures which show that drivers using mobile phones are four times more likely to be involved in a collision.

As well as the obvious risk to life a total of 8,261 Northern Ireland drivers were given £30 fixed penalty fines in the first year since the ban on the use of mobile phones was introduced in February 2004. Since the vast majority of all mobile calls in NI made from company cars are for business purposes – that’s a hefty cost for business owners/managers.

Head of Corporate Business at Barclay Communications, Adrian McCourt said: “Businesses must be responsible for the health and safety of their employees. Ensuring that all company vehicles are fitted with a quality hands-free car kit or Bluetooth headset is a simple and inexpensive way to ensure that your executives remain on the right side of the law and reduce danger on the road.”

Handsfree kits and Bluetooth headsets are available free of charge with many of the money saving packages available to Northern Ireland Businesses with Barclay Telecommunications, which means that it’s easier and more cost effective than ever to contribute to the safety of staff in company vehicles and ensure that your company keeps within the law.

The PSNI say that taking or making any phone call whilst driving should be avoided as it can be a distraction and therefore affect driving behaviour, which may lead to a crash. However, if it is essential to take or make a call from a vehicle whilst driving then it should be via a good hands free kit.

(MB/SP)

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