As lockdown restrictions start to ease and more drivers travelling on regional roads, the community road safety group will ramp up its messaging around mobile phone use by drivers.
Distracted drivers pose a major risk to other motorists, as well as vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians.
Findings from a recent pilot study in the Yarrawonga revealed some alarming perceptions that drivers could ‘`do it safely’'.
About a quarter of survey participants admitted to making or receiving phone calls, checking emails, social media, maps and youtube and, of these, only 15 per cent used their phone while mounted in an approved hands-free holder fixed to the vehicle.
RoadSafe GV spokesperson John Weinert said that the feedback from interviews with drivers was worrying, but not surprising.
“Multi-tasking has become second nature to many of us, with our busy modern lives,” he said.
“In the past 18 months during COVID, we are even more inclined to be checking news and social media updates as that’s become the mainstream mechanism for delivering information.
``Unfortunately, for some this behaviour extends to when they are behind the wheel, which can lead to disastrous consequences.”
The RoadSafe GV ‘Driver Distraction’ awareness campaign is being rolled out at multiple venues across the region.
Posters and advertisements featuring powerful imagery and messages, such as ‘Who will you be leaving behind? It can wait!”, will be displayed in highly-visible locations.
13°C