AMTA has contested media claims this week that illegal mobile phone use while driving is at epidemic levels. The mobile phone industry says mobile phones are only one of the distractions faced by drivers, and other tasks have been found to be more distracting.

AMTA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, told the ABC in New South Wales and the Newcastle Herald that the mobile phone industry takes very seriously the issue of mobile phone use while driving.

“But the assertion that mobile phone use while driving is at ‘epidemic’ levels is, I believe, based on mistaken assumptions and an incomplete review of established research. Mobile phones are only one of the distractions faced by drivers, and other tasks have been found to be more distracting than mobile phone use. Research conducted by Monash University found the effects of distraction were more pronounced during car stereo tasks than during hands-free mobile phone tasks,” he said.

Listeners to the radio and readers of the newspaper were directed to AMTA's website for 10 mobile phone and driving safety tips. Mr Althaus said although a hands-free device can reduce the physical effort to make and receive calls, drivers should avoid making calls in heavy traffic or bad weather conditions and they should not engage in distracting or emotional conversation

They should never take notes, look up phone numbers or read or send text messages. It should also be remembered that mobile phone users provide the extra eyes for police in reporting aggressive, reckless or drunk drivers, accidents and other road hazards. Almost two-thirds of all calls to emergency services originate from mobile phones.