Promise Me: New Trend of a Driver

Don't TEXT and DRIVE

75% of drivers surveyed admit to texting while driving

http://time.com/3561413/texting-driving-dangerous/

What should a driver do when his/her phone rang?

Driver can safely park the car at aside of road to pick up emergency call. If it is not that important, driver may consider not to answer the call, for safety purpose.

No one is allowed to use a mobile phone, even if the car is stuck in a jam or while at a traffic lights junction. It is only legal to do so if the car is safely parked. In Malaysia, it is a crime under Section 17A (1) of the Road Transport Act and motorists are liable to a paltry fine of RM300 if caught.

Today’s new trend for drivers are updating Facebook and Twitter accounts while on the road, especially about traffic conditions.

“They may think that they are doing a public service by informing about the traffic situation but they are committing an offence and putting themselves and other motorists in danger,” ACP Mohd Fuad said some motorists were even using their smart phones to take and upload pictures while driving.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2012/07/14/Facebooking-or-tweeting-while-driving/

When teens first learn to drive, parents and instructors will provide them all the necessary skills and knowledge needed to become a responsible driver in order to ensure their safety.

There are other aspects of driving that are just as important as basic road rules and regulations (Undang-undang) which have been neglected by majority road users. One of them is distracted driving.

Distracted driving is one of the area which should be concern for teens.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/features/article/cell-phones-devices-biggest-driving-distractions

"Interacting with other occupants in the car was a factor in 15% of crashes and cellphone use in 12% of incidents. Whether talking to passengers, checking their hairstyle or using a smartphone, driver distraction is a factor in six out of 10 car accidents involving young drivers."

– see more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2015/03/26/over-half-of-teen-driver-crashes-due-to-distraction/

Distracted driving happens anytime. When a driver couldn’t concentrate and driving safely, the driver has been distracted. Statistically, drivers under 20 years old are at the highest level of risk for driving while distracted. The most common of distracted driving is texting while driving. When a person texts while he or she is driving, they are no longer looking at the road.

Another example is adjusting music, checking their hairstyle, talking or arguing with passengers, and even eating and drinking are all considered forms of distracted driving.

http://www.malaysiasite.nl/dui.htm

Example of distracted driving:

Here is a test for FOCUSING:

http://think.direct.gov.uk/

This prove that most of us are not able to focus two tasks at the same time.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.

https://www.fcc.gov/guides/texting-while-driving

There will be few tests for road users conduct by Promise Me Road Safety Campaign on 29th - 31st July at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Canteen 2 area.