DRIVER inattention and distraction has become such a serious problem that it has been added to the ’Fatal Four’ – speeding, fatigue, drink or drug driving, failure to wear a seatbelt – to make the ’Fatal Five’.
Largely it has been mobile phones and other newer technologies that have created the problem, causing a large number of traffic crashes and fatalities on our roads.
The Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety (CARRS) research shows drivers are four times more likely to have a serious crash requiring hospitalisation while using a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone.
CARRS say that, incredibly, 59 per cent of mobile phone owners admitted using them while driving, with 31 per cent reading messages and 14 per cent sending texts… all while driving.
Other distractions can be caused by children in the back seat, deep thinking about work or home life, the view along the highway, loud music and anything that takes your mind off the task of reaching your destination safely.
“It could be putting a CD in the player or hooking up the iPod,” Acting Senior Constable Wendy Tamblyn of Warwick police said.
Apart from the increased risk, driving distracted can be costly in penalties. Mobile phone use while driving attracts a $330 fine and three points off a driving licence.
“You don’t need to be texting or talking, you could just be looking at the clock on your phone,” Sen Const Tamblyn said.
“The offence refers to using the phone, not just talking or texting.”
She said drivers should turn their mobiles off or to silent and put them out of reach.
“Answering your phone could make it a $330 phone call,” she said.
Another offence – driving with undue care and attention – will require a court appearance, with all the cost and inconvenience that can involve, not just a fine.
“We cannot write you a ticket, but a Notice to Appear, because a court appearance reflects the seriousness of the offence,” Sen Const Tamblyn said.
She said crashes on roundabouts were mainly due to inattention, as were incidents involving cyclists.
“We can almost guarantee somebody’s lost concentration,” she said.
“Drivers need to be aware what’s in front of them, what’s behind them and what’s to the sides.”
Police sometimes found drivers so distracted they ignored a police vehicle following them with flashing lights and siren, she said.
“Failure to stop as soon as reasonably practical when directed to do so can constitute the offence of evading police, if the driver cannot come up with a reasonable excuse as to why they ignored us.”
“Drivers need to turn the music down to a level where they can hear the siren of an emergency services vehicle,” she said.
Sen Const Tamblyn said while eating and drinking in a vehicle is not itself an offence, if it causes distraction or inattention it becomes a matter for investigation.
“If it causes a crash or draws the attention of police we would be investigating the offence of undue care and attention,” she said.
Sen Const Tamblyn said drivers should make preparations like selecting music and putting the phone out of reach before they set out, to ensure they’re not distracted once they’re on the road.
“You’d make sure you had fuel in the car before you set out, so likewise drivers should prepare the inside of the vehicle before they leave,” she said.
“You can send a message to your destination stating the timeframe and other details before you set out,” she said.
She said inattention was the cause of the majority of traffic crashes.
Police do not refer to crashes as “accidents” because there is always a human or mechanical cause, she said.
