This month, penalties were doubled from 3 to 6 points on your licence plus a £200 fine if you are caught using your mobile phone by either texting, calling or using it as a sat nav.

But whilst it might have been at the forefront of driver's minds last week, it's very easy to slip back into old habits. So two weeks on - are your HGV drivers still safe at the wheel and not using their mobile phones? Have you as a haulage and logistics firm briefed and educated your drivers enough on the dangers of using a mobile phone at the wheel?

Let's be clear it is a criminal offence to use your phone whilst your vehicle is in motion and if one of your HGV drivers is caught they could be faced with a penalty of £1000 - £25,000, disqualification and therefore losing their job and damaging your business' reputation and probably costing you in lost business.

Recent surveys revealed that almost twice as many van and lorry drivers than car drivers are spotted using hand-held or hands-free phones whilst they are driving and you're more than four times likely to crash whilst using a phone at the wheel. Not being fully focused in charge of a car is pretty dangerous and can easily kill. Being in charge of an HGV and not having your full attention on the road could cause catastrophic results.

What are the potential risks to your business?
You could be liable for prosecution if you make your drivers receive or make calls whilst they are driving, which would have very serious consequences on your logistics business.

Tips to help keep your HGV drivers safe
There are a number of measures you can put in place to keep you drivers

Have you effectively verbally briefed your staff?
Is it in your driver handbooks and have you given your drivers written instructions?
Perhaps you could make them sign a declaration to say they will not use their phones
Go one further and make it company policy to have mobiles locked in glove boxes until the HGV is stationary.

Other steps to take
Don't call your drivers when you know they are on the road.
Factor in break times to their route planner when they can answer the phone
Supply quality Sat Navs in the cabins so drivers refrain from using their mobiles
Consider fitting dash-cams and conducting random audits to check drivers aren't using their phones.

What about hands-free kits?
As an employer, hands-free phones or kits aren't necessarily the answer... if your HGV drivers are engaged on a cal -l chances are they aren't paying sufficient attention to the road. If this causes them to lose control at the wheel they are at risk of a fixed penalty or even a prosecution.

As an employer consider a policy at work which 'bans' in-vehicle mobile phone use. Lead by example and ensure managers don't make or receive calls while driving.

By fully educating your drivers, you will keep not only your business safe but also your drivers and other road users. 

#Bephonesmart

If you would like a chat about your logistics business and how we can help you, contact Steve Eston today on 0116 254 5488 or email stevene@precisionsearch.uk