Two thirds of Victorians use mobile phone while driving: Australian Road Safety Foundation study

ALMOST two out of three Victorians admit to using their mobile phone behind the wheel, a new study has revealed.

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ALMOST two out of three Victorians admit to using their mobile phone behind the wheel, a new study has revealed.

And Victorians are among the worst offenders nationwide, second only to the home of Australia’s politicians, the ACT.

The study — released on Fatality Free Friday — follows a horror year on Victoria’s roads, where 291 people were killed.

Research commissioned by the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) and Bob Jane T-Marts found that 62 per cent of Victorian drivers admit to handling their mobile while driving — higher than the national average of 55 per cent.

The ACT has the highest rate, at a shocking 82 per cent, followed by Victoria (62%), QLD (61%) then SA (60%).

Rochelle Bartlett says its “frightening” people still use their phones while driving. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Tasmanians are the best behaved, with 48 per cent admitting to the dangerous practise.

Rochelle Bartlett, from Carrum Downs, said she sees a driver distracted by their phone on Victoria’s roads every single week, from people holding their mobile to their ear, missing green lights or looking down while driving.

“It’s so frightening,” the 25-year-old said.

“I see them and I think, ‘I don’t know why you do that, these things can cost you your life’.

“When you’re in the drivers seat you have to set the example.”

Victoria Police is currently in discussions with State Coroner Judge Sara Hinchey on examining the relationship between road fatalities and drivers use of phones behind the wheel.

Acting Sgt Julie-Anne Newman said investigators suspected phone use as a causal factor in a “significant number of fatal and serious injury collisions”.

“We have 4.5 million drivers in Victoria so it is alarming to think that over two million drivers think that it is OK to use their phones while driving,” she said.

ARSF founder and chief executive Russell White said reducing loss of life on the roads had to stem from peer pressure.

Almost two out of three Victorians admit to using their mobile phone behind the wheel, a new study has revealed.

“We need to create a culture where we call each other out on bad behaviour behind the wheel, instead of shuffling the responsibility onto others,” Mr White said.

Victoria suffered a startling increase on road fatalities last year, up 15 per cent with 291 deaths.

It was the state’s highest road toll since 2008, when 303 people lost their lives.

In Australia, Fridays are one of the deadliest days of the week on the roads, with just two out of 53 Fridays being free of a fatality in 2016.

Pledges to be road safe can be made online or at any Bob Jane T-Mart store across Australia.

For more information or to make a pledge go to www.fatalityfreefriday.com.au.

@ashargoon

PHONE USE BEHIND THE WHEEL

Australia — 55%

ACT — 82%

VIC — 62%

QLD — 61%

SA — 60%

NSW — 57%

WA — 56%

NT — 50%

TAS — 48%

Research by Pure Profile for the Australian Road Safety Foundation and Bob Jane T-Marts

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