It is a common practice for motorists to place their handphones within reach while driving, so that calls can be answered, or messages checked, at the first given opportunity.

Although the police had issued around 46,800 summonses to motorists for using their handphones while driving last year, the number represented only a speck of the total offences committed by all drivers in the country.

If in-cabin cameras are secretly installed on a sample of vehicles, it would be no surprise the recordings would show many of these drivers reading messages or watching videos several times while driving to and from work.

Many drivers do not realise that it is an offence to do so, even when the car is stationary, such as waiting at the traffic lights or in a traffic jam. Even stopping by the roadside to use the phone is not allowed.

Leaving our phones in the pocket or handbag will be the safest habit but very few of us would have the discipline to practice it. But for e-hailing drivers using phones to get passengers, there is no option.

As such, there should be official guidelines on how Uber, Grab and taxi-app drivers could use their phones in a safe manner, and be penalised only if they failed to follow correct procedures.

In June 2012, MyTeksi launched its taxi app. Today, there are about a dozen taxi apps available locally.

In January 2014, Uber Black service was launched in Malaysia, followed by UberX in August. Before that, MyTeksi launched GrabCar in May 2014 to counter Uber Black. Later, MyTeksi evolved into Grab and competed successfully against Uber in South-East Asia.

By next month, e-hailing services such as Uber and Grab will be regulated. Some control measures are expected to be announced, such as licensing of drivers and inspection of private vehicles used for chauffeur-driven services.

A Public Driver Licence (PDL) may be introduced for both taxi and e-hailing drivers, amalgamating the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence issued by the Road Transport Department, and Driver Card issued by the Land Public Transport Commission.

The PDL is additional to the Competent Driving Licence (CDL) and it is a good idea that only Malaysians above 21 are allowed to obtain the PDL to drive taxis and e-hailing vehicles.

The PDL will be a boon to full-time drivers or those clocking longer hours, as those who are less serious would not bother to apply, even if it is much easier to obtain than a PSV licence.

Control measures are necessary

However, such control measures are necessary. Likewise, all drivers that are required to use their mobile phones should learn how to use them safely and follow guidelines.

Similarly, this should apply to all commercial vehicle drivers, which include bus and lorry drivers.

If this is ignored, it is a matter of time for another serious accident to occur, as it is common for many drivers to be distracted for a few seconds when using the handphone.

Apart from the sufferings of accident victims and their loved ones, the career of a promising executive can also be ruined by just a moment’s indiscretion behind the wheel, causing untold misery to his family.

As such, the handphone in a car is as dangerous as a ticking time bomb, as touching it while handling a car can lead to dire consequences.

In Singapore, it is illegal for drivers to hold any telecommunication device, such as handphone and tablet while driving, even without using it.

Until local laws are made crystal clear and enforcements more stringent, some introspection could help to avert a disaster.

If we are considerate enough to switch our phones to silent mode in important meetings or seminars, surely we should do the same while driving, as lives are at stake, including our own.