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New research has revealed that 80% of motorists are using their phone behind the wheel, despite nine in 10 labelling the act as risky, prompting RAC to roll out a new road-safety campaign on distracted driving.
Findings also showed that 28 people were killed in inattention-related crashes last year – a 112% jump on the previous five-year average.
The growth of distracted driving to epidemic levels is what led RAC to launch the “Look Up” initiative, which features a spoken-word video part narrated by award-winning writer Gary Turk, best known for his own “Look Up” video launched in 2014.
“Distracted driving is fast becoming one of the leading causes of deaths and serious injuries on our roads and as technology evolves so too does the level of distraction in our cars,” said Patrick Walker, RAC executive general manager of advocacy and members. “There is a myth this type of distraction is only a problem among younger drivers. However, the issue affects all ages and is one of the most complex and devastating road safety challenges we currently face. Instead of letting our devices control us, we need to look up when we’re driving and focus on what’s most important, the safety of ourselves and those around us.”
Turk said the message behind the campaign is that “real human connection and a strong sense of our surroundings is far more valuable than gazing at our smartphones.”
“The spoken word is an engaging and effective way to start a conversation and a memorable way to get people thinking about a subject like distraction,” Turk said.
