According to car insurance provider RAA, motorists are “still not getting the message” when it comes to the dangers of using their mobile phone while behind the wheel. The insurer called on drivers to exercise more responsibility.
“Motorists are well aware of the risks associated with mobile phone use, yet they continue to put themselves and others at risk by using their phones while driving,” Charles Mountain, RAA senior manager for road safety, said of the 12,363 mobile phone offences detected on average every year for the past five years.
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In the months when the SA police ran Operation Distraction, an average of 1,607 mobile phone-related offences were recorded per month – more than double the average 713 offences detected outside the operation campaigns.
“Each time SA police conduct Operation Distraction, they highlight the severity of this problem, clearly showing motorists are not getting the message,” Mountain said. “If police had the resources to run Operation Distraction throughout the year, we expect we would get a more accurate representation of illegal phone use behind the wheel.”
While illegal mobile phone use can be addressed with the help of additional police resources, RAA is also urging motorists to take more responsibility while on the road.
“Put the phone out of reach or turn it off – whatever it takes. Motorists need to take action to avoid getting distracted by their mobile phones,” Mountain said.
A 2016 survey of RAA members revealed that 99% of respondents felt that texting while driving increased their risk of accidents, while 87% said talking on a mobile while driving also increased their crash risk.
Despite the figures, one in five respondents believed that it is fine to use their mobile phone while waiting at a red light.
“Even while stationary at traffic signals, drivers need to be aware of their surroundings, whether that’s being aware of other vehicles when the lights change, or the movement of pedestrians and cyclists,” Mountain said.
The penalty for driving while using a mobile phone is a $327 fine and three demerit points.
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