Donegal Road Safety Working Group has launched a new campaign urging motorists to put their phones out of reach before their journeys.
The serious consequences of using a phone while driving were highlighted through stark figures on the risk of collisions.
Brian O’Donnell, Road Safety Officer with Donegal County Council explains “driving at 60 kph, if a motorist takes their eyes off the road to look at a phone for just two seconds, a vehicle will travel 33 meters and in that time lapse a motorist will be totally oblivious to what is happening on the road.
“A short lapse of concentration can have lifelong consequences, using a mobile phone while driving significantly increases the chances of being involved in a serious or fatal collision.”
The table below shows the distance travelled at different speeds when you take your eyes off the road for just two seconds:
Brian O’Donnell continued: “This new road safety campaign being launched by Donegal Road Safety Working group aims to highlight the serious consequences of using your mobile phone while driving, which could cost you or those you care about everything. Even if you are using a hands-free phone you should avoid making or answering calls when driving. If there is a need to answer a call, pull in safely before doing so”.
“Motorists must be more aware of the incredible danger of using their phone while driving and it is time to banish mobile phones from the driver’s sight by placing them out of reach and out of sight. Using a mobile phone while driving creates a significant risk to all road users and this practice needs to stop”.
“We are asking drivers to be fully aware of how their mobile phones takes their attention away from driving and having your full attention is never more important than when the lives of other road users are at risk”.
He adds: “It is just not worth it, just to take a call or answer a text. The safety of all road users is paramount and we want to ensure that everyone uses the road safely and with consideration for all road users. This campaign sets out to urge motorists to put their phones out of reach before their journey so they are not tempted to use it while driving, ensuring they keep both themselves and others out of danger when on the road”.
28,892 fixed penalty notices were issued for using a mobile phone while driving from January to November 2018.
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