TEXTING and using mobile phones when driving put road users and pedestrians at risk of accidents.
Many drivers will testify to the number of near misses on the road.
A defensive driver needs to be focused, vigilant and survey the driving environment, including the road in front of him, the median, the road shoulders and the horizon.
A driver’s vision should embrace not only the side mirrors, but also the rearview mirrors and windshield.
Texting, eating and talking on the phone distract focus from the road, other drivers and pedestrians.
It is not unusual to see someone texting while driving or yapping away with a phone glued to his ear.
Driving a car is like going to a war zone.
Drivers need to be alert, as a split second of indifference could spell disaster.
Drivers should pull over before texting or talking on the phone.
According to an analytical study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, texting while driving raises the risk of an accident by up to 25 times, compared with undistracted driving.
Also, a survey found that drivers between 21 and 24 years old are most likely to text while driving. Some young drivers have a devil-may-care attitude.
The time has come for us to step up measures to control these activities on the road.
Technology should come to our aid. App developers should create an app that prevents a driver from sending or receiving a text when a mobile phone is detected moving faster than 5kph.
Mobile phone users must be compelled by law to download the app on their phones.
Although we cannot prevent all accidents, a fully-functional vehicle elevates the driver to an advantageous position.
It is about making a lifestyle change for the safety of road users.
Dr A. Soorian
Seremban, Negri Sembilan