Some of Bradford's biggest employers risk facing prosecution after failing to make plans to deal with new mobile phone legislation, it was claimed today.
Talksafe, a new business set-up by three Bradford entrepreneurs, has been offering advice to firms about the best way to deal with new laws which ban the use of hand-held phones while driving.
But managing partner Narinder Sandhu said he was concerned about how few local businesses had taken effective steps to deal with the issue. Under the new laws, companies can be held liable if an employee is caught using a phone while at the wheel.
He said many firms had warned staff not to use the phone but failed to look at the longer-term and identify effective alternatives.
"There are some quite reputable companies locally and even Government organisations which have come to us even at this stage asking us to put forward some proposals," he said. "These are professional sector companies often with more than 200 employees
"A lot of them have told their employees not to pick the phone up. But I think they are now beginning to realise it is unrealistic to expect them not to use the phone at all and are looking at the alternatives."
Talksafe was set-up in Little Germany by Mr Sandhu and partners Dharmesh Patel, 24, and Ali Khan, 28, earlier this year in anticipation of the new laws. As well as its consultancy service for businesses, it also evaluates a range of products on safety grounds and sells models it believes match the Government guidelines.
It is currently in talks with the Department of Transport and other Government departments about the possibility of using the Talksafe brand as a recognised mark of safety. And he said there were also discussions ongoing with some of the world's leading mobile phone manufacturers.
Mr Sandhu said he believed Talksafe was providing a unique service and there were plans to expand nationally and internationally. He paid tribute to the support received from Business Link and advisor David Hodgkiss.
"We believe this issue is really going to explode in March or April next year as the reality begins to hit businesses," he said. "There is a real global opportunity for this business because Britain is the 36th country in the world to adopt this kind of legislation, but in places like Germany, the laws are far more stringent."
The company offers free advice through its website at www.talksafe.org.uk
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