Driver distraction, especially through the misuse of mobile phones, is, unfortunately, one of the biggest contributing factor to collisions and accidents that result in fatalities.
Using a mobile phone while driving is beginning to be viewed as an antisocial behaviour, like drink or drug driving. Legislation in Europe and around the world varies from country to country, but a significant number of those countries operating a mobile-phone-use-while-driving ban for hand-held devices still permit the use of hands-free mobiles. Japan bans both uses and in some US states there are similar restrictions according to the age of the driver or other parameters.
Using a hands-free device is still considered a source of distraction, so, ideally, it is better never to use a phone while driving.
Organisations involved with road safety across various countries have promoted campaigns in order to highlight the personal and public risk of mobile phone misuse. Let’s have a look at some of them:
1 – RSA of Ireland – Don’t text and drive campaign
The video shows a guy preoccupied with texting while walking, as a pedestrian or in a club, and conspicuously bumping into other people, but in the end, before starting up his car to drive, he sensibly places his mobile phone out of reach. The punch-line at the end is memorable: “It won’t kill you to put it away”.
2 – THINK! Government of Transport of the UK – Don't use mobile phones while driving
This, more shocking, public information advert depicts a lady calling up her partner on the phone while he is driving home—the conversation is brutally interrupted by a crash. This time the punch-line is: “You don't have to be in a car to cause a crash. Think.”
3 – Securité routiere du gouvernement – France – Au volant, quand vous regardez votre smartphone, qui regarde la route ? [When you are behind the wheel looking at your smartphone, who is looking at the road?]
In this case a father, is interacting with his child in the backseat of the car, in France. The child is trying to show his father a drawing but the father is explaining that he needs to concentrate on the road. However, he receives an incoming SMS and is unable to resist a quick look—suddenly they smash into the back of a stationary car.
4 – DGT – Dirección general de tráfico – Spain – Al volante, el 99% de tu atención no es suficiente [Behind the wheel, 99% of your attention is not enough]
This Spanish advert shows people at work, where an element of risk is involved, irresponsibly using their mobile phone—a surgeon during an operation, an airport traffic-controller manually directing aircraft, and a barber shaving a customer. A voiceover tells us: “using equipment that can cause death requires your complete concentration” and we are reminded, at the end, “behind the wheel, 99% of your attention is not enough”.
