Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership is launching a new campaign to change people’s attitudes about mobile phones and driving.
Using a mobile phone is one of the most dangerous behaviours for motorists, putting drivers, passengers and
others on the road at risk of death and serious harm. And it is a behaviour seen too frequently on our roads
so please spread the message and help to make it socially unacceptable.
The tragic deaths of four members of the same family on the A34, killed by a driver who was using his mobile
phone and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, illustrates how vital it is to change this behaviour.
Did you know that:
- Using a mobile phone, sat nav or any similar device whilst driving means that the driver’s attention is
distracted from the road. Research shows using a mobile phone while driving can make you four
times more likely to have a crash. Reaction times for drivers using a hand-held phone are 50% worse
than when driving normally. - Using a hands-free phone while driving does not significantly reduce the risks because the problems
are caused mainly by the mental distraction and divided attention of taking part in a phone
conversation at the same time as driving. - Studies show that drivers using a hands-free or handheld mobile phone are slower at recognising and
reacting to hazards. Even careful drivers can be distracted by a call or text – and a split-second lapse
in concentration could result in a crash. - Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. In 4.6
seconds a car travelling at 30mph would have travelled 61.7 metres (202.4 feet) that’s about the
wingspan of a 747 Jumbo Jet! Think about it.
The No Mobile When Mobile Campaign runs from 14th to 20th November. For more information please visit www.roadsafety-gloucestershire.org.uk
