The South African government has carried out a prevention campaign to remind people of the dangers of using the phone while driving.
Eyes riveted on his phone, he didn’t see the pole that stood in his way. A passerby hits a bus shelter while another falls head first down a staircase. These scenes could be shown on a Saturday night during a bloat. They are however the preamble of a South African road safety prevention video.
“You can’t even write a text while walking, so why are you doing it while driving?” “. The message is simple and even reasoned. Viewed over half a million times, this shocking campaign targets all audiences.
Because studies carried out in France and elsewhere show it clearly, both young and old alike always use their phones while driving. According to a survey carried out by the Association des Sociétés Françaises d’Autoroutes (ASFA) among 2,000 people, nearly 60% of drivers call while driving. And more than a third of those polled say they immediately read emails, texts or notifications received. Some 20% admit to answering it while driving. A dangerous behavior that concerns more than 40% of 25-35 year olds.
400 fatal accidents per year
At 130 km / h, 5 seconds spent on his phone represents nearly 170 meters without looking at the road. Reaction time lengthened by half, distraction, this unwanted passenger multiplies by 3 the risk of accident.
In 2015, on French roads, the cell phone was responsible for 17% of fatal accidents, against 4% five years earlier, a proportion multiplied by 4. This corresponds to around 400 fatal accidents per year.
While it is a call from grandmother, an email from her boss or an SMS from her daughter, “it can wait,” recalls the South African authorities. A message to broadcast while the departures on vacation intensify.
.