Algeco UK has reinforced its commitment to road safety by issuing an outright ban on all mobile phone calls made by its employees while driving for business reasons, even with a hands-free unit.

The directive went live to all staff taking effect at the start of November.

Algeco UK is a leading provider of permanent modular buildings, temporary accommodation and storage containers delivering construction expertise to diverse sectors including retail, commercial, industrial, education, health, defence and justice, and many more.

As such the company operates hundreds of lorries, vans and cars up and down the UK every day, delivering anything from a full-scale modular building to construction equipment and site personnel.

The new policy prohibits all Algeco UK employees from making or receiving planned and non-urgent phone calls while driving on business, even with hands-free devices.

Mike Shakeshaft, Algeco UK HSE Director, said: “At Algeco, we believe that safety is paramount, and our updated mobile phone policy reflects this. Road crashes affect everyone involved in ways that are often profound and far-reaching.”

He added: “I’ve seen first-hand how devastating these events can be. Together we are fully committed to using those insights to advocate for greater safety on the roads.”

Research from the UK Department for Transport and RoSPA indicates that any mobile phone use while driving can cause cognitive distraction, which impairs reaction times, hazard recognition, and decision-making abilities.

According to Government statistics, there were 1,624 fatalities on the UK roads in 2023. Some 45% of those killed were vehicle occupants.

Driving for Better Business says that nearly one in three road deaths involves a driving-for-work trip and that 39% of pedestrian deaths involve a working driver.

As part of advice given to all employees, Algeco UK tells them to park safely before making or receiving any work-related calls, and to plan journeys to allow time to stop safely for calls if necessary.

It adds that employees should avoid any planned or non-urgent calls while driving including hands-free ones, and not to engage in conversations that might distract them from driving.

Mike concluded: “We’re putting the findings from real incidents into play to help make our roads and workplaces safer for everyone.”