Road traffic collisions associated with mobile phone usage (FOI)

​Request

A

How many of the Fatal RTCs that have occurred in Jersey were investigated for mobile phone use by the driver, from 1 January 2006 to 1 January 2016?

B

How many of the Non fatal RTCs that have occurred in Jersey were investigated for mobile phone use by the driver, from 1 January 2010 to 1 January 2016?

Response

Mobile phones will be routinely seized at any fatal Road Traffic Collision (RTC) following ACPO guidelines issued in 2014. The seizing of mobile phones at non-fatal RTC’s must be proportionate, necessary and reasonable given the circumstances, the accounts of witnesses or other evidence that may lead to a suspicion that the driver was using a mobile telephone at the time of the collision.

A

Since 2009, there have been 16 fatal road traffic collisions. Three were deemed to be caused by sudden medical issues with the driver, for example heart attack, and eight involved excessive speed. In these and one other case, there was no evidence of mobile phone use and it was deemed examination had no relevance to the incident. In three cases, the mobile phone of the driver was examined but in each case, it was concluded to have no relevance to the incident. One other case is ongoing and no details can be released at this time.

B

There are on average over 400 RTCs a year in Jersey. The States of Jersey Police do not routinely examine the mobile phone of every driver involved in minor RTCs. We have no record of any mobile phones being examined for non-fatal RTCs during this period.