Drivers becoming distracted by mobile phones, satellite navigation systems or playing with the radio account for a large number of collisions each year in Sussex.
While these are commonly understood distractions, it should be remembered that passengers, time pressures and eating and drinking at the wheel can also distract a driver at a crucial moment.
Mobile phone and sat-nav systems
Hand-held mobile phone use at the wheel has been illegal since 2003 - yet it's still not uncommon to see a driver chatting while on the road. It is legal to use a hands-free kit - however these can still be a distraction - especially if the conversation becomes heated!
Satellite navigation systems are a huge benefit to many motorists - especially if they are unsure of exactly where they are going. However, if you want to use such a system in your vehicle, the SSRP urges you to mount it in a place were it won't obscure your vision and to ensure that the unit can 'talk' to you - meaning that you don't have to take your eyes off the road.
Gwent Police Road Safety Video - Driving and Texting
A hard-hitting film made by Gwent Police about a teenage girl who causes four deaths by texting while driving broke through the 1 million online viewings barrier today as phenomenal global interest in the film showed no signs of abating.
Last night Fox TV News in the U.S discussed the value of using shock tactics like this to engage drivers illegally using mobile phones.
The U.S. media giant also showed clips of the film during a news piece earlier this week relating to a Bill currently going though the U.S. Senate which would require each U.S. State to ban texting and driving within two years.
Following the Premiere of the film in Tredegar earlier in the summer clips of the film were posted on You Tube and other similar sites by Gwent Police in the hope that as many people as possible viewed them and saw the dangers of texting and driving.
The clips have become what are known as "viral videos", where web users across the world have been copying and passing on links to others and discussing the content in chat rooms and on blogs. This has meant that the clip has become the most viewed film on You Tube this week.
Gwent’s Chief Constable, Mick Giannasi, who is also National ACPO lead for Roads Policing in the UK, said he was delighted that the film had been viewed by so many people.
“The messages contained in the film are as relevant to the people of Tennessee as they are to the residents of Tredegar. Texting and driving can have tragic consequences and the more this film is viewed the better.”
The Video can be found in the link below:
http://www.gwent.police.uk/leadnews.php?a=2172
Other distractions
Don't be afraid to be firm with your passengers - if they're getting a bit rowdy, tell them to quieten down, or if you need to concentrate on a specific hazard, ask them to keep quiet until the hazard is passed.
We all come under time pressures occasionally; it's easy to leave the house five minutes later than planned or get stuck in roadworks (usually on the way to an important meeting). If this happens - remember to keep calm; getting to where you're going alive and undamaged is more important than shaving a few seconds off the journey here and there.
If you start to think that your attention is being taken off the road - it's already too late, so take action to clear any distractions!
