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Brake welcomes Police
crackdown on drivers using mobiles
A Police campaign to catch drivers who
break the law by using mobiles behind the wheel has been welcomed by road safety
charity, Brake.
The clampdown comes ahead of plans, announced in 2016, by the UK's Department of
Transport, to double the punishment for using a mobile phone while driving.
The charity says the use of mobiles is a growing menace, especially as devices
become more sophisticated. A recent survey by Brake and Direct Line revealed
around ? of drivers aged between 25 and 34 are taking huge risks by:- texting,
using apps or going online on their mobiles when they are behind the wheel.
55% of 25 to 34 year old drivers questioned admitted they had sent or read a
text message on their mobile, while behind the wheel of their car, in 2016.
Despite it being illegal to use a hand held mobile phone at all while driving,
42% revealed they send or read messages, at least once a week.
1 in 5 young drivers (18 to 24) confirmed they regularly text and/or instant
message when they are behind the wheel.
49% of drivers aged 25 to 34 admitted they sometimes go online or use apps (other
than Sat-Nav apps) while driving. Almost a ⅓ of drivers in that age group
said they do that several times a week at least.
Driving is a highly unpredictable and risky activity, so it requires full
concentration at all times. Drivers who divide their attention between their
phone and the road are significantly increasing their risk of causing a
devastating crash.
Reading and writing messages; whether texting, emailing or using apps or social
networks; while driving is even more distracting than talking on a phone, as it
takes your mind, hands and eyes off the road. Texting drivers' reaction times
are 35% slower and they also have poor lane control. 1 large scale study found
texting drivers were 23 times more likely to crash than a driver paying full
attention.
Reaching for a mobile phone can be an irresistible temptation for some, despite
knowledge of the risks. In the UK, experts have warned of increasing levels of
smartphone addiction, by users who are unable to go without checking their phone
for short periods or through the night.
A study of in vehicle video footage estimated that 22% of crashes could be
caused, at least in part, by driver distraction. It also showed that drivers who
perform a secondary task at the wheel are 2 to 3 times more likely to
crash.
Many drivers allow themselves to be distracted because they believe they are in
control, and do not believe distraction poses a significant risk. However,
research shows drivers are not able to correctly estimate how distracted they
are and 98% are not able to divide their attention without a significant
deterioration in driving performance.
Gary Rae, campaigns director for Brake, said:- "We welcome this crackdown
by Police forces. The law needs to be much tougher with this type of offence,
which appears to be growing in numbers. Younger drivers, especially those aged
between 25 and 34, simply aren't getting the message about the dangers of using
a mobile phone while driving. Doing any other complex task while driving hugely
increases your chance of crashing. These drivers are putting their own and other
people's lives in grave danger by taking this risk. If a phone has to be used as
a Sat-Nav, it must be programmed before setting off on the journey and properly
secured. There is no other acceptable way to use a phone while driving." |
