Surging numbers of Victorians caught texting while driving
Victorian motorists are being begged to put their phones away after police in one year nabbed more than 32,400 distracted drivers behind the wheel.
VIC News
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Texting motorists are blatantly ignoring safety messages despite a horror year on Victorian roads, with police catching more than 32,400 drivers distracted behind the wheel in one year.
New figures obtained by the Herald Sun show surging numbers of motorists are being caught out on their phone, with nearly 3000 more fully licenced drivers nabbed in the past financial year than in 2017-18.
Shockingly, the problem is even on the rise among the state’s newest drivers and 2529 L and P platers were handed mobile-phone offences over the same period.
The data has prompted police to plea for commonsense and to encourage motorists to put their phone out of reach if they cannot resist temptation.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane, who is stepping down from his role today to become Road Safety Camera Commissioner, said it was a challenge to make people leave their phones alone.
“The message is not getting through and the evidence supports that,” he said.
“As technology improves and the task of driving becomes simpler the temptation to send a text or scroll through your music playlist becomes greater.
“What we ask is simple — if you cannot trust yourself to leave your phone alone, activate the do not disturb function or put it in a place which is out of reach.”
It comes after it was revealed cameras that detect mobile phone use will soon be rolled out in Melbourne.
There have been 250 lives lost on Victoria roads so far this year, compared to 198 in 2018. Mr Leane said no text or phone call was worth the risk of a collision. “We do not want to be issuing infringements, but if people continue to use their mobile phone when driving, we have no choice but to hold them to account and issue a fine for this risky behaviour,” he said.
Melbourne was the most common council for offences followed by Moreland, Yarra, Monash and Boroondara.
Transport Accident Commission lead director of road safety, Samantha Cockfield, said researched showed a third of drivers admitted to using phones behind the wheel.
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“A two-second glance at your phone while travelling at 60kmh means you are driving blind for more than 30 metres,” she said.
“The best way to avoid being distracted is by putting your phone in the glove box of your car, leave it on the back seat or even turn it off while you’re travelling.
“Mobile phones also now give you the option to restrict notifications while you’re driving, which is a quick fix to removing any temptation to pick up the phone.”