MOSCOW-The Russian government banned mobile phone-in-hand driving from April 1, 2001, after traffic police reported an increased number of accidents.
Only hands-free devices are now allowed while at the wheel, according to a resolution signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. Recent reports from the medical and insurance industries have also noted an increase in accidents when drivers are talking on wireless phones.
Russia also decided to conduct another report on the health hazard of mobile phones.
The Health Ministry gave two years to several research institutes to develop the necessary norms and methods to estimate the radiation hazard of mobile phones, particularly those operating in the GSM, CDMA and DECT standards.
