Research collated by the National Roads and Motorists Association (NRMA), member of the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), has uncovered some confronting findings about phone-related distraction, most notably that mobile phone quadruples crash risk – and texting increases it by a factor of 20.
But texting is only the tip of the iceberg when considering the potential for mayhem and tragedy caused by mobile phone use around vehicles.
Pokemon Go was one of the hottest fads of 2016 but it was also one of the most dangerous for road users: a San Diego University study over a 10-day period last July calculated that 113,993 incidents involving drivers and/or pedestrians were caused by game-related distraction, including 14 car crashes and one pedestrian death uniquely attributable to the game.
While there have been no reports of deaths directly attributable to Pokemon Go in Australia, an NRMA Motoring Education survey revealed shocking use trends amongst schoolchildren, including high rates of inattention near roads and inadequate levels of adult supervision.
The promotion of the #3500LIVES campaign was timed to coincide with UN Global Road Safety Week and also the Yellow Ribbon campaign, which recognises phone-related distraction as one of the fastest-growing dangers for all road users.
For more information on the 4th UN Global Road Safety Week click here.
For more information about the Yellow Ribbon campaign click here.
Click here to view the NRMA's full story.