I hate to start off on a negative note. But I have to share this email from Internal Communications. What's next? An email telling us that murder is illegal and, what's worse, not company policy?
-----Original Message-----
From: Communications, Internal
Sent: 25 November 2003 16:26
Subject: Message from Peter Dugmore - Use of mobile phones and other electronic information devices in vehicles
You may be aware that legislation to be introduced on 1 December will make it a criminal offence to use a hand held mobile phone or microphone while driving. The offence will carry a fixed penalty of £30, which could be increased up to £1000 if the case goes to court. Next year penalty points will be added to an offender’s driving license. It will also be an offence for companies like Cable & Wireless to ‘cause or permit’ the use of hand-held mobile phones when driving.
Cable & Wireless expects all employees who drive as part of their work to always exercise proper control of the vehicle to ensure the safety of themselves and others and has a clearly expressed policy on the use of mobile phones and electronic information devices:
- The health and safety of employees and other road users is of prime consideration.
- Making decisions or dealing with customers while concentrating on driving a vehicle is not good business practice.
- Mobile phones must be switched off at all times while driving and therefore Cable & Wireless will not supply a hands free kit to employees unless assessed as an essential business requirement and agreed by a Business Head or Managing Director.
- The use of voice mail should be utilised and messages retrieved during the periodic stops in the journey recommended by the Highway Code and Cable & Wireless’s management of road risk policy [intranet only URL]. This approach enables returned calls to be made from a safe position where an employee’s full concentration will be on the business to be conducted.
- In the event that a Business Head or Managing Director has authorised a hands free kit, received calls will be brief and ended as soon as is practicable with calls returned once the vehicle is parked.
- Calls must not be initiated while driving.
