You are a killer if you text and drive #Arrivealive
Texting while driving distracts the driver from the road
Are you guilty of texting, taking selfies or using your cellphone while driving? Statistics show that many South African drivers often text while driving, which leads to accidents on the road, reports the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA). This is a serious offence and illegal in South African.
Allegedly, texting while driving distracts the driver from the road for an average of 4,6 seconds and increases the chances of an accident by a massive 23 per cent. The impairments associated with drunken driving and texting while driving have much in common, and both are exceedingly perilous activities.
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According to the Wheels24 website, the chairman of MIWA, Les McMaster, said the following: “Texting while operating a vehicle is a seriously dangerous activity, but distracted driving means more than just texting. It’s any activity that takes a person’s attention away from the main task of driving. There are three types of distractions, namely visual, which is when drivers take their eyes off the road; manual, a task that requires drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel; and cognitive, when the driver’s mind is not focused on the task at hand.”
“We certainly have many patients who are admitted to Netcare’s emergency departments who report that their vehicle accidents were related to one or other form of diversion while they were at the wheel,” said Netcare general manager, Mande Toubkin.
According to the National Roads and Motorists Association, drivers who regularly send text messages spend up to 400 per cent more time with their eyes on the phone instead of on the road.
Arrive Alive urged motorists to heed to the rules of the road at all times.
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