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Search forLet's target mobile phone use while driving
Thursday, December 04, 2008, 09:11
Rarely a day passes when I and, I suspect, many others don't see someone breaking the law in this way as they drive around Bath, seemingly oblivious to the fact that what they are doing is not only illegal but very dangerous.
Research has shown that you are four times more likely to have an accident while using a phone than when not. Moreover, other research has demonstrated that one's reactions are actually slower when using a mobile behind the wheel than if one was over the drink-driving limit.
Clearly the message still hasn't got across to some people, perhaps because they feel it's unlikely they will be caught or that the current penalty of three points and a £60 fine isn't a deterrent.
It's too easy to leave it to our local police to do something about it. We can all try to involve ourselves in some way in making this illegal behaviour as socially unacceptable as drink-driving or lighting up in a restaurant. For example, if someone phones you and you know they are driving, hang up. Or if you see a driver making a call while you are walking, just shout at them.
If you are driving yourself, why not hoot the horn while making a phone sign? Or if the offending driver is in a van or lorry with a firm's phone number on the side, make a note and report him.
CHRIS WILMOT Third Avenue Oldfield Park, Bath
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