Examination of phone records following road traffic collisions (FOI)

Request

A

I would like to know if the Police automatically check a driver’s phone records when they are involved in a road traffic collision (RTC).

B

If yes, how many drivers involved in RTCs were found to have been using their mobile in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and so far this year.

C

If not, what prompts the Police to check the phone records.

Response

A and C

Under Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, disclosure of such information is absolutely exempt if the information is available by other means. The information requested was provided in a Freedom of Information response in December 2016 and is available at:

Road traffic collisions associated with mobile phone usage (FOI)

B

Between 2012 and 2016 no drivers were found to have been using their mobile phone when involved in an RTC. In 2017 so far, prosecutors have presented one such case to the Royal Court.

Exemption applied

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.