August 14th, 2008
A coroner has issued a warning to parents to stress the dangers of playing in dangerous environments after a young boy was killed in Wales.
Jordan Widdall-Hughes, aged 10, died after falling off a lorry which he had grabbed onto as it passed him in the street.
The boy and his friends had been so-called ‘lorry-surfing’, a craze among some young people which sees them using their mobile phones to film themselves jumping onto lorries and posting the clips on YouTube.
However, Jordan fell as the lorry accelerated and hit his head. He died later in hospital.
Newport coroner David Bowen said: "I hope the parents of youngsters who read this stress to their children that jumping on moving vehicles is an unacceptable, very dangerous and potentially fatal habit."
Roger Vincent, spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents told the BBC that parents should talk to their children about possible risks during the summer holidays in order to avoid further tragedies. 
Tags: Bbc, Coroner, Dangerous Environments, David Bowen, Friends, Habit, Jordan, Lorries, Mobile Phones, Newport, Parents, Prevention, Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents, Spokesman, Summer Holidays, Surfing, Tragedies, Wales, Youngsters, Youtube
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July 28th, 2008
A company in County Durham has banned its employees from using mobile phones while they are at the wheel.
Workers at the 3M manufacturing plant in Newton Aycliffe have been told they cannot use mobiles, or even hands-free devices, while using their cars for business.
The company has been running a child safety road campaign since 2005, which has involved the distribution of 95,000 high visibility vests to young people in a bid to reduce the number of accidents on roads in the area.
Doug Mitchell, 3M’s managing director, said there is compelling evidence that using mobiles while driving impairs a motorist’s performance.
Katie Shephard, fundraising manager for the road safety charity Brake, agreed: "Research has shown that it is the phone conversation that distracts and kills, regardless of whether a hands-free kit is used or not."
She added: "We hope other companies will follow 3M’s lead and introduce this ban as part of their health and safety policy."
Tags: 3m, Accidents, Charity, Child Safety, Compelling Evidence, County Durham, Doug Mitchell, Hands Free Kit, Health And Safety, High Visibility, Managing Director, Manufacturing Plant, Mobile Phone Use, Mobile Phones, Newton Aycliffe, Phone Conversation, Road Safety, Safety Policy, Visibility Vests, Wheel
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July 1st, 2008
A driver was so engrossed in a conversation while using a hands-free phone he caused a fatal car crash, a court has heard.
Marvyn Richmond was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison at Lincoln Crown Court, for dangerous driving.
Van passenger Michael Buston was killed in the accident, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Figures show that 30 deaths are caused by mobile phone use, although the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) believes the true figure is much greater although few motorists admit to using mobile phones while driving.
RoSPA spokesman Roger Vincent said the government should consider legislating for a total ban on drivers using mobile phones.
"It is the conversation itself that is the problem, because people get more and more involved in that and pay less and less attention to the road," commented Mr Vincent.
A law came into effect in California yesterday (June 30th) prohibiting the use of mobile phones while driving. Motorists over the age of 18 will be permitted to use hands-free phones, although those under the age of 18 will not.
Tags: Accident Reports, Buston, Crown Court, Daily Telegraph, Deaths, Fatal Car Crash, Half Years, Hands Free Phone, Hands Free Phones, Lincoln, Mobile Phone Use, Mobile Phones, Motorists, Mr Vincent, Prevention, Richmond, Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents, Spokesman, True Figure
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