This Bill (Reg. No.1407) seeks to reduce the increasing road injury rate through violation of traffic rules by drivers, said Andriy Shkil, the Bill Sponsor. The proposed amendments envisage a disciplinary penalty in the form of a fine for the use of a communication device by a driver in charge of a moving vehicle.
Presenting the Bill, the People´s Deputy emphasized that those who use communication devices (phones, portable radio-transmitters, etc) whilst driving, are no less dangerous than drunk drivers. A. Shkil referred to research that proves that during a phone call a significant part of the nervous system resources are diverted from the control of the road situation and the moving vehicle whilst driving. The activity of the cerebral cortex of those under study showed a reduction of 29% during a phone call. This leads to a lower response to the changing road conditions than is demonstrated by the presence of alcohol in the blood.
The Sponsor drew the attention of the auditorium to the fact that in Ukraine, an absence of a hands-free device is classified as ‘other violations of traffic rules´ and is punished by a ‘caution´ only. Surveys show that drivers consider the using of a mobile phone whilst driving is only a minor traffic violation, whereas road inspectors refer to the use of a mobile phone, without the use of hand-free devices, as a dangerous violation, ‘since they distract from safe driving´.
The strengthening of the liability for violation of the rules for the use of communication devices will apply to all transport drivers, apart from those employed in emergency services, for whom it is essential to have such communication during the execution of emergency tasks.
The Sponsor suggests that the size of the fine for repeated violations within a year, by the same driver, is much higher, due to the severity of the offence.