ROAD SAFETY AND breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is offering its support for the latest #dontstreamanddriveawareness campaign. It’s a worthy cause highlighting the risk posed by drivers who choose to ‘live-stream’ their journeys using hand-held mobile phones. GEM road safety officer Neil Worth said it was hard to understand why any driver would think live-streaming was a good idea.
“Using a mobile phone while driving leads to a significant rise in the risk you pose on a journey,” he said. “Not only will you fail to keep proper control of the car you’re driving, but you will also miss road signs and you will be unable to maintain constant speeds or safe positions on the road. “Your ability to identify risks as they unfold will be severely restricted, meaning you most likely won’t be able to react to situations.
The result might be anything from a sharp intake of breath through to a devastating and totally avoidable collision. “Quite frankly it’s hard to believe that anyone would live-stream while in control of a car. After all, why add another layer of entirely avoidable distraction to the already complex task of driving? “Our message to drivers who still think it’s acceptable to use a hand-held mobile phone for any purpose while driving is simple.
Please put it down and give 100 per cent concentration on safe driving. If you don’t, you are likely to kill someone and you will go to prison for a long time.”The #dontstreamanddrive initiative is spear headed on social media by @SgtTCS (Neil Dewson-Smyth), a UK police officer with nearly 30 years’ experience. Neil has a strong passion for the dangers of distracted driving, with particular emphasis on the use of mobile phones. Follow GEM on Twitter@MotoringAssist for the latest industry news.
