[PR] Mobile Phones and Driving

You're four times
Its hard to
more likely to
concentrate on
have a crash
two things
when you're on
at the same time.
a mobile phone.

http://www.rsa.ie/NEWS/News/Mobile_Phones_and_Driving.html

You're four times more likely to have a crash when you're on a mobile phone.

Its hard to concentrate on two things at the same time.

DRIVERS 4 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO CRASH WHILE ON THE PHONE
- Over 35,000 Penalty Points Issued for Mobile Phone Offences -

People who use a mobile phone while driving are 4 TIMES more likely to have a crash, putting themselves and other road-users at an increased risk of death or serious injury. This is the hard-hitting message from the Road Safety Authority (RSA), today, Thursday 15th May, at the launch of their new ‘Mobile Phones and Driving’ awareness campaign.

According to Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority, drivers and other road-users should be aware of the dangers of using mobile phones when driving: “Research tells us that you are 4 TIMES more likely to have a crash if you use a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone when you are driving.* Using a mobile phone while driving distracts the driver, impairs their control of the vehicle and reduces their awareness of what is happening around them.”

Penalty points for holding a mobile phone while driving a vehicle came into force on 1st September 2006. As of 30th April 2008, there have been 35,253 offences for holding a mobile phone while driving, the third highest offence behind Speeding and Driving without a Safety Belt. Any person found holding a mobile phone faces up to 4 penalty points and a fine of €2,000 if convicted.

Conor Faughnan, Corporate Affairs Manager, Automobile Association welcomed the initiative: “I think this is very timely and helpful from the RSA. There is no doubt that in Ireland we are a nation of mobile phone junkies. We simply have to get out of the all-too-easy habit of using the phone while driving. We all know intuitively that it is dangerous and now we have the data to prove it. There is a clear responsibility both on drivers and on those who call them to put road safety first and let the call wait until later.”
Chief Superintendent Declan Coburn, Garda National Traffic Bureau, is concerned that drivers do not appreciate the adverse impact of using a mobile phone while driving, and continue to offend in this area of road safety: "The use of a mobile phone while driving affects a driver’s ability to maintain lane position, speed and an appropriate distance from vehicles in front. Judgement and recognition of safe gaps in traffic are impaired, reaction times are slower and the driver does not have the necessary awareness of other traffic. Garda personnel are enforcing the law on mobile phones on a daily basis and, for the first 4 months of this year, have issued in excess of 13,000 fixed charge notices. The use of mobile phones has become a normal part of everyday life, however, for the safety of all road users there is no place for them when driving."

Concluding Mr. Brett said, “We understand that many people need to use their mobile phone as part of their daily lives but it’s a scientific fact that drivers who use a mobile phone while driving have higher accident rates than those who do not. Our message is simple - Switch off before you drive off - If you need to make a phone call or check messages, pull in and park in a safe place. No phone call is worth putting your life or the lives of others at risk.”

The RSA has produced an information leaflet called ‘Mobile Phones and Driving’ which can be downloaded from www.rsa.ie . In addition to this, a new 30 second radio ad outlining the dangers of driving while using a mobile phone is being run on all national and local radio stations.

The leaflet provides the following advice for drivers:

1.Switch off before you drive off. Turn off your mobile phone or put it on the ‘silent’ or ‘meeting’ option setting before starting your journey.
2.Use the voicemail on your mobile phone so people can leave messages for you while you’re travelling.
3.Stop regularly on your journey so you can check for messages and return any calls.
4.Make sure the place you stop is a legal and safe place to park. It is illegal to stop on a motorway unless it is an emergency.
5.If you call someone on their mobile phone while they are driving, be aware that they should be concentrating on their driving and not on your conversation. Tell them you will call them back or wait until they pull their car over.

*Department for Transport UK

Editors Note;
A total of 103 people have died on Irish roads to date in 2008 compared to 126 to the same date last year. The number of fatalities on Irish roads this year is down 23 on this day 2007.

The number of road fatalities to date in May 2008 is 6.

To download a copy of the “Mobile Phones & Driving” leaflet click
here
To listen to the RSA’s new Mobile Phone Radio ad click here

For further information, please contact:
Brian Farrell, Communications Manager, Road Safety Authority: 086 3881009
Communications Office, Road Safety Authority: 096 25132
Eimear Hurley: 087 6418491

ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY
Moy Valley, Ballina, Co. Mayo. www.rsa.ie

Dear Subscriber,
A new publication has been uploaded on the Road Safety Authority website, which you can review below.

Title: Mobile Phones and Driving, Description:Mobile Phones and Driving, Category:Road Safety