It doesn’t always take speed, drugs or alcohol for disaster to strike on the road – sometimes all it takes is a moment’s distraction.
As we head into the Bank Holiday weekend, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is reminding drivers that distraction on the road doesn’t have to be dramatic to be dangerous.
It’s often the small, everyday habits that carry the biggest risks.
Using a phone while driving makes you four times more likely to be involved in a crash – and even hands-free use can affect your driving.
According to the RSA, using your phone on the road affects your driving in four ways.
- Physical – Instead of focusing on tasks like steering and changing gears, your hands are occupied with your phone.
- Visual – You have to take your eyes off the road and focus on the phone to use it. Even if you are talking on the phone hands-free, your eyes ‘look but do not see’ the road in front of them.
- Auditory – The sounds of the mobile phone draw your attention away from the road – particularly if the connection is poor.
- Cognitive – Instead of focusing your attention and thoughts on the road, you are diverting your attention towards the conversation.
The reality is simple. If you look at your phone for just one second while travelling at 50km/h, you cover around 14 metres without seeing what’s in front of you.
That’s around four car lengths where anything can happen.
Image: RSAThis Bank Holiday weekend, the RSA is urging all drivers to put their phones on Do Not Disturb or Focus mode before getting behind the wheel – ensuring that no calls or notifications come through while driving.
Drivers are also being reminded that distraction isn’t just about mobile phones.
It can be putting on make-up in traffic, grabbing a bite to eat on the go, turning around to speak to passengers, or checking on children in the back seat.
Each of these takes your focus away from the road – even if only briefly.
Image: RSAFocusing on anything else other than driving when you get behind the wheel is a distraction.
A distraction that could destroy your life or someone else’s.
When you’re driving, nothing else matters.
