Monday, October 25, 2010
Tweeters run risk of road accidents
Worrying research by the AA has revealed that more than 20% of road users are willing to break the law by using social network applications while driving. An astonishing 26% of drivers, including many with student car insurance, believe that it's fine to send a quick text message while stalled at traffic lights.
A large proportion of teenage drivers are willing to put at risk both their own lives and the lives of fellow road users by posting micro messages on Twitter. Many are happy to engage in some phone banter with their buddies while their car is on the move. Perhaps they aren't aware of the phone related car accidents, which have been hitting the news with increasing regularity over the past few years.
It seems quite ridiculous that individuals with young drivers insurance cannot spend a bit of time away from their mobile phones in this technological age. Our housemates might be willing to forgive us for not telling them that we'll B late 4 din dins, when they realise that lives are at stake.
Adrian Tink, RAC Motoring Strategist, said, “We're seeing the alarming emergence of a generation of tweeting and texting 'i-Drivers' - which is very worrying.
“The best deterrent is the fear of getting caught. Without that all we have is a policy without enforcement or, to put it another way, just a piece of paper. Your licence or a life - neither is worth losing over a phone call.”
It seems unlikely that people will stop using their mobile phones while behind the wheel unless the government impose harsher penalties. There has been a steady stream of stories about this problem since the texting and phone laws were introduced way back in 2003.
A large proportion of teenage drivers are willing to put at risk both their own lives and the lives of fellow road users by posting micro messages on Twitter. Many are happy to engage in some phone banter with their buddies while their car is on the move. Perhaps they aren't aware of the phone related car accidents, which have been hitting the news with increasing regularity over the past few years.
It seems quite ridiculous that individuals with young drivers insurance cannot spend a bit of time away from their mobile phones in this technological age. Our housemates might be willing to forgive us for not telling them that we'll B late 4 din dins, when they realise that lives are at stake. Adrian Tink, RAC Motoring Strategist, said, “We're seeing the alarming emergence of a generation of tweeting and texting 'i-Drivers' - which is very worrying.
“The best deterrent is the fear of getting caught. Without that all we have is a policy without enforcement or, to put it another way, just a piece of paper. Your licence or a life - neither is worth losing over a phone call.”
It seems unlikely that people will stop using their mobile phones while behind the wheel unless the government impose harsher penalties. There has been a steady stream of stories about this problem since the texting and phone laws were introduced way back in 2003.
Image © jasonweaver via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
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posted by Fuse @ 3:24 AM 
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