Mobile phone madness

Paul 18 January 2016

mobilephonedriving In 2015, GNR road patrols caught nearly 29,000 people who were driving along, chatting away on their mobile phones.

This was an increase of almost 30% compared to the previous year and represents a mass rejection of a driving law designed to prevent accidents.

Major Marco Cruz of the GNR said that "people have no real perception of the seriousness of using their phone while driving."

"The risk factors are clear," Cruz added, claiming that despite the increase, "more targeted campaigns and assertive action from the GNR has contributed to reducing the number of victims."

Cruz said that using a phone while driving turns a young person's reactions in to those of a 70-year-old.

The new data show that 31% of drivers write and send text messages while driving, a practice that puts lives at risk as driving and use a mobile phone impairs the attention and reflexes of drivers.

In fact, talking on a mobile phone while driving increases the likelihood of having an accident by 23 times.

Comments

-1 #6 David T 2016-01-19 11:12

Quoting Ben:

"Cruz said that using a phone while driving turns a young person's reactions in to those of a 70-year-old"

I'm a 70 year old and their is nothing wrong with my reactions, just ask my 26 year old girlfriend!

"...now where is my hearing aid, and what have I done with my spectacles...?"

-2 #5 Ben 2016-01-19 11:10

"Cruz said that using a phone while driving turns a young person's reactions in to those of a 70-year-old"

I'm a 70 year old and their is nothing wrong with my reactions, just ask my 26 year old girlfriend!

-2 #4 Ed 2016-01-19 08:59

Quoting Peter Booker:

Use of a phone on the move is not illegal if the phone is not hand held. It is clear that people in general want to use their phones. Why not promote hands-free devices in cars? Or better still, provide in all new cars a device for the legal use of a phone while driving?

the purchase of a €20 earpiece gismo from FNAC is all that is needed for most phones.

-1 #3 Peter Booker 2016-01-19 07:59

Use of a phone on the move is not illegal if the phone is not hand held. It is clear that people in general want to use their phones. Why not promote hands-free devices in cars? Or better still, provide in all new cars a device for the legal use of a phone while driving?

+2 #2 Techy 2016-01-18 21:00

What is still missing is any attempt by the police to triangulate use of phone with the movement of the vehicle.

As all phones nowadays have GPS and most are always on - the phone companies could easily supply this information. Showing who is using their phone whilst on the move. Public transport would register several phones in the same space and most would have real time base communication giving their estimated time of arrival, so could be excluded.

The police then waiting at their stop for single driver vehicles. Game over as the proof would be undeniable.

+8 #1 charly 2016-01-18 18:57

Incredible low number of offenders: I rarely see a driver who is NOT chatting ! Indeed the NON-CHATTERS becomes an exception and a rarity in this country.
So, GNR there is a fully open market waiting for you. Check at the same time the IPO card and the Insurance card and the Portugese roads will immediately become a lot more safer.

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