Driving is a complex task, requiring drivers to use and coordinate a number of skills. Any lapse in concentration increases the risk of the vehicle being involved in a crash. Inattention is reported as a contributing factor for 35% of fatal crashes and 47% of serious injury crashes per year.
Driving while using a hand held mobile phone can cause both physical and cognitive distraction and impairs driving performance. Specifically, using a mobile phone while driving can significantly impair a driver’s:
- reaction time
- visual search patterns
- ability to maintain speed and position on the road
- ability to judge safe gaps in the traffic
- general awareness of other road users.
Research has shown that using a mobile phone while driving increases crash risk by at least 4 times. Typically, ‘run-off-the-road’ crashes and ‘rear end’ crashes are the most common types of crashes associated with mobile phone usage.
Using a mobile phone while driving can bring even greater danger to novice drivers as they may experience difficulty in balancing the many demands on their driving - from perceptual, mental and physical tasks. Research has found novice drivers who use a mobile phone spend less time looking at the road ahead. They are also more likely to wander over the road (across traffic lanes) and take longer to notice driving hazards.
A mobile phone can be important in an emergency. If you need to use your mobile phone to call for help, stop and park safely where you will not endanger other road users.
|
Safe driving tips for using a mobile phone |
|---|
|
Never read or send text messages while driving |
|
Use voicemail |
|
Pull over safely and park to make or receive a call |
|
Plan breaks in your trip for phone calls |
|
Tell your family and friends not to call when you know you’ll be driving |
|
Tell callers you are driving and may have to end the call |
|
Don’t make calls in heavy traffic, poor road conditions or bad weather |
|
Never look up phone numbers while driving |
FAQS
How do mobile phones distract drivers?
Driving is complex and challenging. A simple way to make driving safer is to reduce the number of non-driving and distracting activities you undertake while driving.
Using a mobile phone while driving distracts you in many ways:
- Physical distraction is caused by handling the phone while driving. For example, removing your hand from the steering wheel to dial a phone number, to answer or end a call.
- Visual distraction is caused by the amount of time you have your eyes off the road.
- Cognitive distraction refers to lapses in attention and judgment. This happens when you have to perform two mental tasks at the same time. Having a conversation competes with the demands of driving, with your attention often changing from driving to the conversation. This results in unsafe driving and increases the risk of a crash.
Why is it dangerous to use a mobile phone while driving?
Research shows that dialing and talking on a mobile phone while driving can lead to:
| Riskier decision making | Deciding when it is safe to turn in traffic is a complex task. Using a mobile phone while driving affects judgment and concentration and you may fail to choose a safe gap. When making a decision to turn across oncoming traffic, you also tend not to consider the environmental conditions such as, when it is raining or the roads are slippery. If you don’t make safe turns you could crash. |
|---|---|
| Slower reactions | You generally react slower when using a mobile phone, particularly when you’re deep in conversation. You may take longer to respond to traffic signals or completely miss them. |
| Slower and less controlled braking | During a mobile phone call your brake reaction time is slower, and you brake with more force and less control which results in shorter stopping distances available between yourself and the car in front. |
|
Wandering out of your lane |
You’re more likely to wander out of your lane when you’re using a mobile phone, even on a straight road with little traffic. |
| Not being alert to your surroundings | When using a mobile phone, you tend to spend less time checking your mirrors and what’s going on around you. This affects your ability to monitor and negotiate traffic safely. |
Why is talking to a passenger different to talking on a mobile?
If a dangerous situation develops, your passenger can stop talking and let you concentrate on driving. On a mobile phone, the person you’re talking to isn’t aware of the danger and will keep talking, further distracting you when your full concentration is needed.
Why is text messaging even more dangerous?
Text messaging while driving results in physical, visual and cognitive distraction. Research shows that retrieving and sending text messages increases the amount of time a driver spends not looking at the road. Your eyes maybe taken off the road for up to four times longer when text messaging compared to a driver who is not text messaging. This can lead to:
- Incorrect lane changes
- Wandering from your lane
- Missing road signs and hazards like pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.
The more you talk the less you see!
Even the best drivers have difficulty in processing two or more pieces of information at the same time, especially if the tasks are similar or they demand more attention than the driver can give at one time.
For example, it is more difficult to drive safely and have a simple conversation in a complex driving situation such as in peak hour, on unfamiliar roads, at night and in wet weather. It is less difficult to drive safely in light traffic while having a simple conversation with a passenger.
It is also more difficult to drive safely and have a complex conversation in light traffic. This conversation needs more attention and takes your mind off the road. When your mind’s not on the road, someone can die.
More FAQs and South Australian rules on mobile phone use
What the Law says
In South Australia, Rule 300 (Use of Mobile Phones) under the Australian Road Rules details what is and isn’t legally acceptable use of a mobile phone while driving.
Rule 300 states that:
- If a person wishes to make or receive a call, including dialling a number, and needs to touch any part of the phone to do so, that phone must be mounted (in a mounting commercially designed and manufactured for that purpose).
- If the phone is being used via blue tooth, a headset or earphones without touching, holding or resting the phone on their body, the phone may be located anywhere in the vehicle, including in the driver’s pocket or pouch they are wearing (the driver may touch the earpiece or headphone to operate the phone).
- The amendment will not affect the driver’s freedom to hold the phone to make or receive calls, or use any other function of the phone, if the car is parked (but not stationary in a traffic queue or at lights).
- It is an offence to create, send or look at a text, video message or email on a mobile phone.
Penalties
In South Australia, drivers who use a hand-held mobile phone while driving face an on-the-spot fine and will incur three demerit points.
A motorist whose driving is affected while using a mobile phone may also be charged by Police with the offence of driving without due care or dangerous driving depending on the type of driving behaviour. These offences carry severe penalties and are not expiable.
Remember, if you don’t have proper control of your vehicle because you are talking on a hands-free mobile phone you are guilty of an offence.
Links
Mobile Phones – Rules for Motorists
Motor Accident Commission of South Australia
Various research reports and articles on the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving
If you drive while phoning you’re far more likely to get into a crash in which you’ll be injured (PDF 799kb)
The effects of text messaging on young novice driver performance (PDF 346kb)
The risk of using a mobile phone while driving (PDF 257kb)
Drivers ignore the risk of mobile phone use
Role of mobile phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance: A care-crossover study
Mobile phone use while driving. Conclusions from four investigations
Note - This information is a guide only and should not be relied on for legal purposes. Full details of traffic offences and penalties are contained in the Road Traffic Act 1961, associated Regulations and the Australian Road Rules. For further information visit: www.legislation.sa.gov.au.
);){kind=spacer}
Mobile phone use