Finnish motorists cut back on use of hands-free equipment
Ministry of Transport investigates effects of mobile phone legislation
|
|
|
Finnish motorists have cut back on their use of hands-free equipment while driving their cars. In 2003, 15 percent of drivers reported speaking on their mobile phones without a hands-free device, but the figure had risen to 20 percent last summer.
These are the results of a study commissioned by the Ministry of Transport and Communications which compared last summer’s situation to a similar survey conducted one year earlier.
The part of the Road Traffic Act that forbids using mobile phones without a hands-free device while driving took effect at the beginning of 2003.
Although the use of hands-free equipment may now have slightly decreased, the legislation seems to have reduced the use of mobile phones while driving in general. In fact, 41 percent of motorists report never using a mobile phone while behind the wheel, a figure much higher than before the introduction of the new legislation.
In addition to interviews with1,500 motorists, the hands-free study included traffic observation. The observation also confirmed that the use of hands free equipment has decreased: six percent of motorists broke the law in 2004, compared with three percent in 2003.
Violators of the rule are subject to fines of 50 euros.
The share of drivers who own a hands-free device had also fallen last summer. In 2004, 48 percent of drivers reported owning a hands-free device, down from 52 percent one year previously.
A majority of Finnish motorists feel that using a mobile phone while driving should only be allowed if the driver uses hands-free equipment.
Helsingin Sanomat
