BOSSES are being urged to ensure that the number's up for employees using mobile phones while driving.

In a bid to underline the perils of mobile phones distraction, Bury Council organised a special virtual reality event to prove the point.

On Wednesday, local authority staff were challenged by the council's road safety unit to use a driving simulator to assess their driving skills -- with and without the distraction of a handset.

The event, part of the council's "Switch it off! Missing a call won't kill you" campaign, was organised by its road safety unit at the council's depot at Bradley Fold.

The council has sent a guidance leaflet to all its 8,000 staff in this month's pay and wage slips highlighting the dangers of using mobiles while driving.

New research has shown that making a phone call while driving, even with a hands-free phone, can slow down a driver's reaction time to a greater extent than drink-driving.

Meanwhile, the road safety unit is advising employers to avoid asking staff to make or receive calls when they are driving.

Lee Davies, from the unit, said: "It is hard to do two things at once and to drive safely you must concentrate on the road. Of course, people can now be fined for using a hand-held mobile phone when driving. Drive carelessly or dangerously when using any phone and the penalties can include disqualification, a large fine, and up to two years imprisonment."

He added: "An employer may also be prosecuted if they require an employee to use a mobile phone when driving.

"Many drivers believe a hands-free phone will enable them to have control of their vehicle, but their minds will not be fully on the task of driving."

Councillor Mike Connolly, executive member for environment and transport, said: "Up to a third of all crashes involve somebody who is at work at the time. The council is taking at-work road safety seriously and I would encourage all employers and employees to do the same."