Road safety organisation and breakdown cover company GEM Motoring Assist launches its latest video to highlight the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving.
The video, ‘Kill the Conversation’, shows how highly illegal and dangerous using a mobile phone while driving can be, but also proves that banishing any sort of distraction makes an excellent contribution to reducing risks during road journeys.
Validated by transport psychologist Professor Stephen Stradling, the video demonstrates a significantly reduced ability to control a car safely as four drivers negotiate a private off-road site while talking or texting on their phones.
GEM Chief Executive, David Williams MBE, comments: “Your physical skill in controlling a car is lost when using one or both hands to use a mobile phone and, additionally, your mental concentration is dangerously reduced. Both factors could mean you react late to hazards developing ahead or, in the worst cases, you may not see them at all.”
Since being introduced in 2003, mobile phone law now means a £60 fine and three points on your licence if using a phone while driving. There are much tougher penalties if you injure someone and you could face 14 years in prison if you cause a death.
David continues: “Official figures show that you increase your crash risk fourfold when using a mobile phone while driving, so we have launched this video to prove that it is easy, through sensible journey planning, to manage a road journey without using the phone. Being aware of what’s ahead, without a distraction, allows you to maximise the amount of space and time needed to react to any developing hazards.
If it’s really important that you are in constant contact, set a voicemail greeting accordingly and build in regular breaks on journeys so you can check for messages and call anyone back when you have stopped somewhere safe,” David concludes.
The video can be viewed at motoringassist.com/kill-the-conversation.
