Chief Cop will have your jobs - with our help!
PoliceWitness - a technology company that helps empower motorists to record incidents of dangerous / reckless driving on the road – are supporting calls by a senior police officer for employers to sack haulage and other commercial drivers caught texting while on the road.
Last month, Essex Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh told the BBC that: "We need to see professional bodies saying if you get caught using your mobile telephone or texting while you're driving, you will be sacked.”
Matt Stockdale, Chairman of PoliceWitness, says: “We are fully behind Chief Constable Kavanagh on this – it sends a powerful message to any driver who has a company name written down the side of the vehicle, which is - get caught using your phone by a member of public whilst driving a company vehicle, and you may face immediate dismissal.
“With tens of thousands of motorists and cyclists recording their journeys and reporting through our service, those drivers who chose to flout the law could potentially lose their jobs. The key here is that all businesses large and small should communicate and enforce this policy.”
Mr. Stockdale adds “The Chief’s calls are an endorsement of our success which has already seen several professional drivers lose their jobs** after being caught recklessly driving or not in control of their vehicle. We have to put this into context, these drivers are driving weapons on wheels. A momentary lapse of concentration could see an entire family killed as the weight of these lorries are capable of crushing a normal family car and its passengers beyond all recognition”.
Mr. Stockdale cites a recent example where a commercial driver was filmed driving his van using his elbows, whilst on his mobile phone (images attached) on the (M1 North Bound in Leicestershire). He says: “This driver was obviously not in complete control of his vehicle. We have contacted the company - Crown Trade Windows Ltd – and we are waiting for a response from their MD. I have also sought an informal opinion from Leicestershire police.
“Alas this is not an isolated incident, no more than a mile down the same road a further HGV driver towing a second 40ft trailer was observed using his mobile phone. The company SilentNight have been contacted and we are awaiting a response from their Operations Director, Neil Birch.”
He summarises: “Firms that dismiss employees for using their phones or who are not in full control of their vehicle are providing a valuable life lesson, and some could say preventing them from facing criminal changes and even prison for causing death by dangerous driving.”
ENDS
* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-23585694
**Having seen footage uploaded through the PoliceWitness service, several drivers have lost their jobs including a Northampton Borough Council bin driver; a flat bed recovery truck driver; and an Essex bus driver. The driver of this Waltham Forest bin lorry also lost his job, too (see video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq1DGv1YNuQ)
Contact:
Matt Stockdale, Chairman of PoliceWitness.com is available for comment / interview. Please call 01908 44 00 77 or email: stockdalem@policewitness.com
About PoliceWitness:
PoliceWitness.com is a technology company that helps empower motorists to record incidents of dangerous / reckless driving on the road and involving their vehicle. Footage can be uploaded to the PoliceWitness website who will then forward it on to the relevant Police authority or your insurer, depending on the incident.
PoliceWitness.com has extensive knowledge of both frontline and strategic policing, and the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service. Through its contacts with the police, PoliceWitness.com facilitates the consideration of ‘prosecution quality’ video evidence supplied directly from the public, reporting road related incidents in a format the police and CPS recognise and can act upon. Reports are submitted directly to a specifically assigned officer, thus by-passing the control centre who are then free to process more urgent requests for assistance.
This proactive approach to true ‘public’ policing offers a standardised, commercial methodology across all forces, saving our police forces huge amounts of resource and planning. Whilst providing this service, PoliceWitness.com is able to identify countrywide public perceptions, and more importantly expectations, with regard to road related offences and the service provided by the authorities.
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