The Chief Executive of car technology company Bluesona, Mel Morrison, has welcomed the introduction of tougher action on mobile phone use while driving as an important step in improving safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Downpatrick-based Bluesona works with insurance companies to provide a system, LoopMatics, that tackles distraction driving caused by mobile phone calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe changes to The Road Traffic Offenders (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2020 are vital,\u201d said Mr Morrison. \u201cThey are a clear signal that mobile phone use while driving is the worst type of distraction for a motorist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the changes approved the fine for using a handheld mobile phone was increased from \u00a360 to \u00a3200 and the number of penalty points increased to six. A second offence will lead to the loss of their licence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bluesona\u2019s LoopMatics system tracks the driver\u2019s on road behaviour as well as recording their mobile phone use. It is designed to encourage safer driving by providing feedback to the user on their journey and flagging the times when a mobile is used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Statutory Rules introduced by Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, are an important step forward,\u201d said Mr Morrison. \u201cHopefully they will indicate to all drivers that it is not legal, and not acceptable to use a mobile when behind the wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I particularly welcome the fact that all parties backed Ms Mallon\u2019s changes, and spoke so powerfully in the Assembly chamber.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From 2017 Bluesona has focused on making driving safer, in partnership with insurance companies. Unlike many of the \u2018black box\u2019 style devices they developed LoopMatics uses a simple plug-in to track journeys, acceleration, heavy braking and if these coincide with using a mobile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the discussion on the changes to the Road Traffic Offenders Order Ms Mallon said that she had consulted with the Assembly\u2019s Infrastructure Committee, Justice Minister, Naomi Long, and PSNI Chief Constable, Simon Byrne, and that all backed the increased penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe illegal use of a mobile phone while driving is a selfish disregard for the law,\u201d the SDLP MLA said bringing forward her proposals in the chamber. \u201cIt poses a serious threat to not just the driver who made the selfish choice but to many other innocent road users. The consequences can be devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Morrison said that he was conscious when developing LoopMatics it was clear there needed to be more than just a nudge to the way mobile phone use is thought about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere needs to be a change of attitude, and a change in behaviour,\u201d he said. \u201cIt needs to be based on it becoming the norm to stop using phones when behind the wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd, I congratulate the Assembly parties and members on passing the changes with no opposition. Too often we forget the role of MLAs in introducing safety measures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the changes newly qualified drivers who commit the offence will also be banned on their first offence as a result of the increase in penalty points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chair of the Assembly Infrastructure Committee, Michelle McIlveen, said: \u201cAs we are all aware, the technical advancements in phones have made the device an indispensable addition to our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever, it is the urge to check messages and respond to the sound of a notification that makes them so dangerous whilst driving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The DUP member also said that the committee would support the planned review of mobile phone offences to be carried out in line with the English and Welsh Department for Transport review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s Cathal Boylan reflected on the impact of fatal road accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is often said that a single death on a road is one too many,\u201d he said. \u201cWe must improve road safety in any way that we can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe all know how families and, indeed, communities are affected by a death. It is incumbent on us to try our best to introduce as many measures as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ulster Unionist, Roy Beggs, said: \u201cThe use of mobile phones has become more and more common. Many people are almost addicted to them. They forget the risks that are involved in being distracted when driving, even by considering the use of such a phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andrew Muir of the Alliance Party echoed the seriousness of the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFifty-six people died on our roads in Northern Ireland last year,\u201d he said. \u201cNine in 10 road deaths and serious injuries are caused by human error. That is why we must come down hard on those being reckless with the safety of others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Morrison said that safety was the ultimate aim of Bluesona and LoopMatics, through its ability to show drivers, in an easy to use interface the habits, especially in terms of mobile phone use that needs to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bluesona is based in Downpatrick and has a centre in Letterkenny. They offer their LoopMatics software to customers through various insurance companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find out more at bluesona.co.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Chief Executive of car technology company Bluesona, Mel Morrison, has welcomed the introduction of tougher action on mobile phone use while driving as an important step in improving safety. Downpatrick-based Bluesona works with insurance companies to provide a system, LoopMatics, that tackles distraction driving caused by mobile phone calls. \u201cThe changes to The Road … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19130"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19130"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19130\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19132,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19130\/revisions\/19132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatsonni.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}