Friday 1 March 2013

MOBILE PHONES, P-PLATERS AND DRIVING TO DISTRACTION


Have you ever felt the adrenaline rush of guiding 1000 kgs of metal at speeds of phenomenal velocity? Do you ever feel the thrill of successfully nailing swerves and turns and dodges preventing near crushing impacts at extreme rates of flight? Do you get excited when you're continually seconds from death and in total control of your outcome? Have you experienced that feeling of supremacy when you guide one tonne of petroleum monster into a tight squeeze with only the smallest of margins for error?

Well if you think you can't then think again. Every time you sit yourself behind your steering wheel and drive to the shops or workplace or to pick up your kids, you perform remarkable acts of life endangering exercises. We sometimes take for granted the responsibility of driving our vehicles and occasionally we pay the price. For the most part driving our car is one of the most life threatening and dangerous activities we perform and yet we rarely think about the enormity of the risks involved. We only consider the ramifications when we occasionally pass a crash scene and feel sickened. Funnily enough once we step out of our vehicles and onto our private driveway we can barely remember or recall anything about the journey. And yet so many of us think we have a 'right' to be preoccupied doing other things while undertaking this risk. Examples in the media recently: texting and talking on mobile phones, applying lip-stick and mascara, searching radio stations, reading... the list is scarily endless.


“Mobile phones are the biggest distraction for road users. In 2011-12 Victoria Police issued more than 55,000 mobile phone infringement notices to drivers, with 20 to 30 year olds the biggest offenders,” the Assistant Treasurer of Victoria Mr. Rich-Phillips said.

“Other distractions include using satellite navigation systems, eating food, putting on makeup while driving or using iPod and MP3 players while walking, riding and driving.”

Road trauma costs lives, happiness and money.
Every week around five people die and almost 100 are seriously injured on Victoria’s roads.
Play your part in reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
The economic cost of road trauma is estimated to be more than $3 billion a year to the Victorian community.

Each and every person on our roads also has a role to play in the road safety effort.



There were 282 people who died on Victorian roads in 2012. So far, 1-3- 2013 there has been 40 deaths. For every death on our roads consider how many people are affected. How many people are seriously injured? How many families are involved in rehab and care? Consider the impact on emergency services. What is the true cost? Not just financially but emotionally and socially.

How would an airplane full of passengers react if the pilot was busy texting his wife about a dinner date while trying to navigate his plane to land. Stupid analogy? Then consider how many road users you encounter and endanger if you're driving whilst distracted.

In light of changes to Victorian laws regarding P-Platers and mobile phone usage I would propose no mobile phone usage by any driver- hands free or otherwise. Switch them off before you start your car and stay tuned to the 1000 kgs you should be in control of.

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