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Emergency services drivers will be able to use hand-held communication devices while driving under newly approved law changes.
Under the new rules, emergency services drivers will be able to use hand-held devices behind the wheel when communicating through the existing Airwave Tetra system and the forthcoming Emergency Services Network (ESN) system.
The change comes following a consultation by the Department of Transport, which sought input from emergency services workers. The government received 22 responses, of which 21 agreed with the exemptions.
Respondents highlighted the criticality of blue light workers being able to transmit and receive information in developing emergency situations.
While respondents generally recognised the road safety risks and acknowledged that hands-free systems should be used wherever possible, they considered that the operational benefits of allowing these exemptions outweighed the risks.
However, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) expressed concerns about the proposals on the grounds of risk and distraction. They suggested that hand-held use should not be necessary because police vehicles should have the technology to facilitate hands-free communication.
The government said previous uncertainty as to whether emergency services drivers using hand-held devices were in contravention of Regulation 110 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 was unhelpful.
Accordingly, the government has decided to implement the proposal to establish a new exemption from the offence.
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