Regional drivers, walkers urged to put phones away and pay attention

Start Navigation [Current Level] End Navigation [Current Level]

28 Jan 2016

The TAC is reminding Victorians to put away their phone and pay attention when walking this summer.

Nearly 200 pedestrians have lost their lives on Victorian roads in the past five years.

Despite far less congestion in rural areas, more than a quarter (56) of those people died outside metropolitan Melbourne.

Of those 56, Saturday proved to be by far the most fatal day of the week, with 15 regional pedestrian lives lost – the next highest was eight.

TAC chief executive Joe Calafiore reminded Victorians that a lapse of concentration when out walking could turn deadly.

"We all know pedestrians will come off second best in a crash with a vehicle like a car, tractor, truck or motorbike," Mr Calafiore said.

"What we are asking pedestrians to do is be aware of their surroundings at all times and put away the mobile phone when out for a walk or a drive.

"Distractions are a major cause of road trauma and all road users, whether they're drivers, pedestrians, cyclists or riders, are at risk when their attention is taken from the important task of using our road network," Mr Calafiore said.

TAC road safety research has revealed about half (51 per cent) of regional drivers admit to answering or making a phone call while driving.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of regional drivers said they read text messages while stopped at traffic lights, less than those drivers from metropolitan areas (36 per cent).

However, regional drivers were more likely than city drivers to read a text while actively driving (14 per cent versus 9 per cent).

"Whether you're driving a car that's moving or at a standstill, using your phone without a hands-free kit just shouldn't be an option," Mr Calafiore said.

"Rural roads often have higher speeds, so if you're looking at your phone for just a couple of seconds while driving at 100km/h, you'll travel almost 50 metres virtually blind.

"Installing hands-free technology while minimising your talk time, asking one of your passengers to look after your phone or even placing it in the boot are all better options than risking your life or others," Mr Calafiore said.

Pedestrians crossing the road

The TAC is reminding Victorians to put away their phone and pay attention when walking this summer.

Download Hi-Res
Contacts

Media queries only:

Please refer any other enquiries to: