Drivers – I’ll never take or make calls, read or type when driving. I’ll put communication devices out of reach, and stay focussed on the road.
Everyone – I’ll never chat on the phone to someone else who’s driving.
Brake Driver advice: distractions
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Drive smart
Driving is one of the most complicated and risky tasks many of us do on a regular basis. It requires our full concentration, and both our hands, to drive safely.
If you think you can multi-task at the wheel, you’re kidding yourself and putting people in danger. If you use a mobile phone, eat, fiddle with a stereo, do your make up, or do anything else that takes your eyes and mind off the road or your hands off the wheel, you’re significantly increasing your chances of being involved in a crash.
Mobile phones
More and more people own smart phones, and some find it hard to switch off, even for a minute. But you should never use your phone at the wheel.
Making or taking calls, texting, using the internet or checking social media while driving is incredibly risky. All these things are a bit like drink-driving: they slow your reaction times and hinder your control, and could easily cost you or someone else their life. Research shows if you 
are on the phone when driving your reactions are 50% slower and your crash risk is four times higher than normal.
This applies to hands-free kits too. Despite it currently being legal in the UK to make or take calls using a hands-free kit while driving, research proves it’s not a safe option. Hands-free kits are almost as risky as holding the phone to your ear, because it’s the distraction of the conversation that’s the main danger.
The only way to avoid dangerous distraction from your phone is to switch it to silent, and put it out of sight and reach when you’re driving.
On long journeys, stop for breaks every two hours, and check your messages then. If you need to work or keep in contact on a long journey, take public transport instead, which is safer, better for the environment and means you can get work done.
You can also help other drivers to stay safe by refusing to speak to someone on the phone while they’re driving. If someone picks up while they’re driving, end the call as quickly as you can. It could save their life.
Sat-navs
If you use a sat-nav, programme it before starting your journey and never while driving. Fiddling with the sat-nav will take your eyes and mind off the road with potentially lethal consequences.
Remember, it’s there to help you keep focused on driving rather than worry about directions, but it’s not there to make all the decisions for you. You still need to look at signs, particularly those warning of hazards or speed limits, and watch for people and hazards.
Eating at the wheel
Eating and drinking on the move might seem harmless but research shows it impacts on your ability to react quickly. Eating at the wheel often means taking your eyes, hands and mind off the road, and it only takes a small lapse in concentration for a devastating crash to occur. Eating should be a pleasure, so take the time out to savour your meals when you’re not driving.
- Pledge to never use a mobile phone while driving
- Read Brake’s factsheet on distracted driving
- Back our Drive smart campaign for a complete ban on phone use at the wheel
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Rebekka was knocked down and killed age 11 by a car that mounted the pavement. The driver had been making a call on his mobile phone. Hit play to hear Rebekka’s tragic story. Visit Brake’s Youtube channel for more videos. |
www.brake.org.uk/schools-communities/make-the-brake-pledge/32-facts-a-resources/1130-distractions13