On Monday, the Traffic Safety Agency launched a national prevention campaign entitled “Safe Without a Phone in Traffic”.
Cell phones have been a major traffic distraction over the past decade, and they have been shown to increase the risk of accidents. Drivers also often cause traffic jams when using mobile phones. From January 10 to 23, 2022, the Traffic Safety Agency is coordinating the preventive campaign “Safe Without a Phone in Traffic”. In 2021, the police identified 33,254 violations related to the use of cell phones while driving, which is 10% less than in 2020. The decrease in violations can be attributed to tougher legislation, year-round agency awareness, and police oversight. Among the perpetrators, the age group from 35 to 44 years stands out, 31.6% of them.
According to the category of participants, motorists control, 16,664 of whom are more than half, and one-fifth (7053) truck drivers. Mobile phones have a strong influence on the cognitive abilities of the driver. Writing messages or browsing social networks while driving means up to 23 times the risk of a car accident. During the operation, the police will monitor the use of mobile phones, devices and other equipment (tablets, laptops, headphones) that interfere with the driver’s visual and auditory perception or ability to control the vehicle. In addition, they will pay attention to other infractions, especially those related to exposed road users, pedestrians and cyclists. The Agency for Traffic Safety and the Police calls: »Wait for a call, message, like or post on social media. Don’t be behind the wheel behind the screen, and don’t be online in traffic!«
The new legislation imposed tougher penalties
For many years, the Traffic Safety Agency has been drawing attention to the high risks posed by the use of cell phones in traffic and proposing legislative changes. It was fully adopted with last year’s amendment to the Road Traffic Rules Act, and went into effect in mid-August. As part of the campaign, the agency wants to raise awareness and inform drivers about the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving and the new legal provisions. For using a mobile phone while driving, motorists are fined 250 euros and 3 penalty points. For road users who do not need a driver’s license (bicycles, e-scooters, and other light-engine vehicles), the penalty for unauthorized use of mobile phones, headphones and other devices while driving is 120 euros.
Hands-free calling isn’t secure either!
The use of a handsfree is permitted by law, which is not recommended by the police and agency, as it is distracting to the driver and unsafe! »Don’t control your phone while driving, don’t surf social networks, don’t write reminders, don’t surf websites, don’t take pictures and don’t record, driving is an activity we should give our full attention to! If using a mobile phone in an emergency, stop at a suitable place out of the way and only continue when you have finished talking, advises the police and the Traffic Safety Agency.
The use of mobile phones while driving extends the driver’s reaction time
The mobile phone is not considered one of the main causes of a car accident, but it is a very important risk factor for its occurrence.
Foreign research shows that it is While writing an SMS or browsing social networks, the driver focuses on the phone for an average of 5 seconds And not on the road. At a speed of 60 km / h, it travels more than 83 meters. In the settlement, when driving 50 km / h, it travels nearly 70 meters. There is a greater danger on the highways where At a speed of 130 km / h it covers more than 180 meters in five seconds, and at a speed of 100 km / h it covers 139 meters.. There are similar risks It was as if he had come this far with his eyes closed. The driver drives noticeably low attention and thus puts himself and all other road users at risk. The agency is also drawing attention to these facts with new flyers and posters. during the campaign It will distribute 15,000 flyers, 900 awareness posters and 2,500 car perfumes in Slovenia and to meet the needs of staff from 74 municipal councils for prevention.
It’s while using a mobile phone User attention decreased in three aspects of perception and managementThe visual, the physical and the mental.
Using a mobile phone while driving significantly reduces the driver’s concentration and ability to pay attention to what is happening on the road and its surroundings. The driver may overlook essential information from the environment, so it increases Car accident risk, according to various international studies from 4x-23x. In this way we put ourselves and others at risk, and a simple mistake is enough to cause an accident.
They are with the drivers Various studies have also found that reaction times are up to 50% worse. Same as when driving under normal conditions.
Motorists control violators
The law states that a driver may not use equipment or devices while driving in a manner that would reduce his auditory or visual perception or ability to control the vehicle (mask, headphones, telephone, etc.). In 2021, police found 33,254 violations Under Section 35 of the Road Traffic Rules Act. Last year, there were 36,771 such violations. The 10% decrease in violations can be attributed to the tightening of legislation and awareness throughout the year and police oversight.
The agency also noted this improvement at the end of last year during repeated field monitoring of drivers in eleven municipalities. During monitoring in August, 1,162 drivers or 2% of all vehicles (59,141) used a mobile phone, which was included in the four-hour count, and in February 1482 or 2.7% of all vehicles (55503).
among the perpetrators The 35-44 age group stands out, which accounts for nearly a third of all violations (31.6%). Followed by age groups 25-34 years with 23.4%, 45-54 years 22.5%, 55-64 years 12.9%, and the least violations are in age groups up to 18 years (0.1%), 18-24 years (5.7%) and over 65 years old (3.6%). According to the category of road users, motorists dominate, more than half of them It was followed by truck drivers who made up more than a fifth (21.2%) and cyclists with 2%.
Frequent use also among cyclists and pedestrians
Even while cycling Let’s not use the cell phone But Headphones to listen to musicAs this has a significant impact on the perception of traffic and events in the area and the timely response. For road users who do not need a driver’s license (bicycles, e-scooters and other light vehicles), The penalty for unjustified use of mobile phones, headphones and other devices while driving is €120. The agency also indicates that We often see fake pedestrians looking at their mobile phones and trampling on a pedestrian crossing But On the bike pathAnd don’t check that they did it safely enough. The timing and adequacy of pedestrian reactions has been reduced by up to 60% due to the use of mobile phones and social media browsing.