Mobile phone usage should attract harsher penalties

25 September 2009

As the double-demerit point period kicks in for the September long weekend a new poll by the RAC has shown motorists want mobile phone use to attract the tougher penalty.

A snap poll on rac.com.au found that 81 per cent want the practice of texting to attract a double demerit point penalty on long weekends.

A survey in March this year found that 86 per cent of motorists rated mobile phone use as a major distraction.

RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said the latest finding reflected growing concern among motorists about texting and the dangers posed by drivers using mobile phones.

“There is overwhelming evidence that mobile phone use is a real danger on the roads,” Mr Brown said.

“People using mobile phones pose a danger to themselves, their passengers and to other road users.

“Studies have shown that using a mobile phone while driving can cut your reaction time by as much as 50 per cent and causes a four-fold increase in the likelihood of being involved in a crash.

“But the number of Western Australians being caught using their mobile phones while driving continues to increase.

“It is difficult to go out on the roads and not see someone using a mobile phone while driving.

“The message is clearly not getting through. People seem to think their convenience is more important than the safety of other road users.

“We need to send a wake up call to those people by toughening up the penalty. The double-demerit period is the obvious starting point in that effort.”

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