How long does it take a driver to look at a ringing mobile phone/smartphone? One, two, three seconds? And what happens on the road during that time?
After considering these questions, one may conclude that banning the use of mobile phones while driving really does make sense. Admittedly, the law prohibits using a device that requires holding the handset or microphone in one’s hand, but the safest option is to refrain from talking on the phone while driving.
According to various studies, looking at a mobile phone can take a driver as much as 5 seconds. A car travelling at 50 km/h covers approximately 13.3 metres in 1 second. This means that if a driver looks at a mobile phone—even one placed in a device intended for that purpose—they will travel more than 66 metres in 5 seconds while travelling at 50 km/h.
The car travels more than 66 metres while the person driving it cannot see what is happening on the road! In addition, there is the driver’s reaction time—approximately 1 second—which means another several metres during which nothing happens if a hazard arises. Only after such a long time—and after travelling almost 80 metres—will the driver activate the braking system, after which the vehicle will begin to brake.
Talking on a mobile phone, even when using a headset or hands-free system, diverts the driver’s attention from the situation on the road. Habits developed through practice allow the driver to operate the controls used to drive the car, but they do not observe changing circumstances as attentively. They may fail to notice an oncoming car, a cyclist or even a child on the road.
Such a distraction can lead to a tragedy that will weigh on a person’s conscience for the rest of their life.
What do you think?