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Young drivers 'most likely to take work calls'
driving
Drivers who talk on the phone are four times more likely to have a crash resulting in injury.
Charity says employers have a responsibility to staff

Nearly half of young drivers have taken a work-related call whilst behind the wheel, according to a recent survey. Road safety charity Brake says employers have a responsibility to ensure they are not putting their staff in danger.

Brake's survey of 1,000 drivers shows that 49 per cent of young people (aged 17-24) had taken a work call while driving, compared to 17 per cent of drivers across all age groups.

These figures include calls taken on both hand-held and hands-free phones, as previous studies suggest they are equally dangerous. Drivers who talk on the phone are thought to be four times more likely to have a crash resulting in injury.

According to the survey, young drivers are not only the most likely to engage in work calls on the road, but are also more likely to take calls from friends and family. More than a third said they had talked to family on the phone while driving and just over a fifth had talked to friends.

Brake is calling for a ban on using hands-free at the wheel and is urging people to keep their phones on silent and out of reach while driving. It is currently illegal to use a hand-held phone while driving.

The charity is also urging people not to engage in phone calls with employees, colleagues, friends or family members when they know they are behind the wheel.

"In the modern world, drivers are confronted with many distractions that prevent them from giving the road their full attention, risking devastating crashes and loss of life," said Julie Townsend, the charity's deputy chief executive.

"It is a sobering thought that a significant number of these life-threatening distractions come from drivers' own friends and family. That's why we're urging people to put their loved ones safety first by refusing to speak to them on the phone while they are driving.

"Employers, too, have an important responsibility to make sure they are not putting their employees in danger."

To see the full survey findings, visit: http://www.brake.org.uk/news/1479-who-s-putting-your-life-on-the-line-for-a-quarter-of-drivers-it-s-family

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.