Distracted driving is a lethal risk on SA’s roads

Drivers who allow themselves to be distracted by their mobile phones vastly increase their risk of becoming involved in a motor vehicle accident.

That’s the word from Werner Vermaak, Communication Manager at ER24, who says that driver distraction as a result of texting and talking on mobile devices is one of the leading causes of car accidents in South Africa. He says that talking and texting on the road has a real effect on a driver’s reaction times and cognitive functions, impairing his or her ability to make the split-second decisions that spells the difference between avoiding or causing a road accident.

“In the worst case, a driver might be using one hand to scroll or input text on a phone and looking at a mobile screen rather than the road,” says Vermaak. “This problem has been exacerbated since the advent of smartphones – now, drivers are not just reading and checking SMS messages but even browsing the Web and social media.”

According to Australia’s National Roads and Motorists Association, drivers who send text messages spend up to 400% more time with their eyes on the phone than on the road. What’s more, studies show that a texting driver’s reaction time can be poorer than someone who drank alcohol to the legal limit or smoked marijuana.

When it comes to talking and driving, insurer Discovery estimates that 80% of calls are made without hands-free kits. This is despite the fact that the law forbids driving and speaking on your mobile without the use of a hands-free kit.

Distracted drivers can cause accidents that result in serious damage to cars, critical injuries and disabilities and even deaths. Those that get away with only a bumper bashing might find that their insurers deny their claims, warns Vermaak.

“If you cause an accident because you were using your mobile while driving, the insurer could be within its rights to decline to pay for repairs to your car and the other cars involved,” says Vermaak. “Thus, the financial consequences can be devastating.”

The best way to stay focused on the road is to turn your phone off and stow it away until you arrive at your destination. If you must talk, use a hands-free kit, and never text, email or browse the Web while you’re driving.

If you want to use the GPS function on your phone, input your destination before you start driving. Rather pull over to the side of the road if you need to check directions, phone someone, or answer an urgent call.

ER24 and Cellfind offer a service called IDme that connects you to fast medical help via your cellphone in the event of an emergency. IDme turns your cellphone into a panic button which immediately links you to ER24’s Contact Centre when you hit a speed dial number.

“Cellfind’s technology enables ER24 to save you valuable time by dispatching the closest and most appropriate emergency resource, providing life-saving treatment, and transporting you to the nearest suitable medical facility,” says Jacques Swanepoel, Managing Director at Cellfind.