Texting Whilst Driving Increases Road Deaths

Recent RAC Foundation research shows that nearly 50% of drivers aged between 18 and 24 texted while driving, and that reaction times slowed by 35% when 17 to 24-year-olds drove while reading and writing text messages.

The research last year showed that texting while driving impairs motorists more than being under the influence of drink or drugs. As well as reaction times being slower, the research showed also that texters often drifted out of lanes, had poorer steering control and the overall driving performance was poor.

In order to try and address this issue a shocking new video has been produced by Peter Watkins-Hughes using young actors from South Wales. It has been posted on video sharing website You Tube. Gwent Police said it hoped the graphic video would be shown in schools around Wales and hopefully the rest of the UK.

It shows in slow motion a crash caused after a girl, called Cassie, briefly loses concentration of the road while looking at her mobile, and includes footage of all the emergency services attending the crash scene, including the air ambulance and firefighters. It shows in slow motion a crash caused after a girl, called Cassie, briefly loses concentration of the road while looking at her mobile. It also includes footage of all the emergency services attending the crash scene, including the air ambulance and firefighters.

Quoted on the BBC New On-Line website, Chief Insp John Pavett from Gwent Police Roads Policing Unit said texting and driving was happening on roads all over the country, despite the fact it is illegal.

He said: "I hope that after watching this film motorists will think twice before picking up their mobile phone when behind the wheel and realise that a quick reply to a text message or answering a phone call is never worth putting theirs and other people's lives at risk."

Given that everyday young people are driving to work, it is incumbent upon employers to address this issue via their own individual health and safety policies, which should include policies around the use of mobile phones both in work and whilst driving.

 

Gwent police say on their website:

"Gwent police is proud to have helped Brynmawr filmmaker Peter Watkins- Hughes in the production, which stars local drama students Jenny Davies as Cassie, and Amy Ingram and Laura Quantick as her friends, Emm and Jules.

The film is a sequel to a previous documentary called ‘Lucky Luke’, made 14 years ago, which showed the devastating consequences of joy riding. It is hoped the film will become part of the core schools programme across Wales and ultimately the UK."

Source: BBC News / You Tube / Gwent Police

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services