Talk SMART – don’t use your mobile behind the wheel
20/05/2010 15:05:56
‘Leave your phone alone when driving’ – that’s the message from Surrey Police and Surrey County Council’s new Talk SMART in Surrey campaign to help stop motorists using hand-held mobile phones at the wheel.
The campaign, which launches with Talk SMART in Surrey Week on Saturday 22 May, is the latest initiative under the year-long Drive SMART campaign to tackle anti-social driving.
During the Talk SMART week there will be enhanced operational activity and online, radio and billboard advertising, along with road shows across the county to remind motorists of the dangers of using their phone while driving. For the first time, a Quick Response (QR) code will also be included on leaflets and material at the road shows, so smartphone users can scan and link through to the campaigns online adverts on the Drive SMART website.
Seventeen per cent of motorists nationally admit to using their mobile phone without a hands free kit while driving, putting themselves at risk of being four times more likely to be involved in a collision. Those aged 17-34 are more likely to do this, especially males, 39%, and those with three to six years experience, 34% (Think! Annual Survey Dec 2009).
Drive SMART was launched last September by Surrey Police and Surrey County Council to tackle anti-social driving, which has been consistently raised as a priority by Surrey residents. Fifty per cent of respondents to the Surrey Driving You Mad survey in August last year felt the use of hand-held mobile phones was a top anti-social driving issue, making it second only to drink-driving at 67 per cent.
Between 1 January and 31 December 2009, Surrey Police issued 3,102 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving plus five for doing so while supervising a learner driver. This compares to 3,513, plus four while supervising, in 2008.
Bad driving in the county won't be tolerated and Surrey's Roads Policing officers will be prosecuting motorists caught using a hand-held mobile phone, which could result in a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licence. If the case goes to court they could also lose their licence and, potentially, their job.
Inspector Chris Colley of Surrey Police Roads Policing Unit said: "The priority for Surrey Police and partners is to reduce the number of casualties on the roads. We want to educate motorists about the serious consequences of using a hand-held mobile at the wheel and will, where appropriate, take a robust approach to enforcement.
Our advice is to turn off your mobile phone for the duration of a journey, or use it only when safely parked. If you call someone who is driving, please take responsibility and hang up."
With hard-hitting advertising, supported by posters and leaflets, we are hoping that drivers will get the message that no phone call is so important that you should risk your life, or the lives of those around you.
Dr Andrew Povey, Leader of Surrey County Council said: "We are doing everything we possibly can to encourage drivers to break their bad habits. Using a mobile phone while driving is a dangerous act that too many people do not take seriously enough. As well as being distracted and less aware of their surroundings, a driver using a mobile at the wheel has only one hand to steer, which can lead to careless or dangerous driving."
The Talk SMART road shows will include the chance to win a prize, kindly donated by the Mercedes Benz Driving Academy. The prize one for each of the road shows will be either three hours of on-road tuition with a driving academy coach (for learners) or a refresher package for licence holders. The road shows will be in Guildford High Street and Staines town centre on Saturday, 22 May and Redhill town centre on Saturday, 29 May, between midday and 2pm.