Safe Driving this Weekend

Research shows that using a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone while driving is a significant distraction.
If you use a mobile phone while driving you are much less aware of what’s happening on the road around you
which makes you four times more likely to crash, injuring or killing yourself or other people.

1. Never use a hand-held phone while driving.

2. Don't dial and drive.
   If you need to ring someone, pull over first. You can't keep an eye on the road and the keypad at the same time.

3. Save the call until later.
   Use your Voicemail service to save calls until later, when you've parked or finished the journey

4. If in doubt pull over.
   Hands-free devices may be better than holding the phone in your hand but the call itself can still be distracting.

5. Never try to use text, picture or Internet services while driving.
   Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

6. Avoid stressful calls.
   A difficult call is distracting even with a hands-free device

7. Never try to take down notes or phone numbers.
   
   (Source Vodafone Ireland)

• At 50Km/h, a car will travel 14 metres in just one second.

• 95% of all accidents are attributable to human error alone

• It is estimated that between 25% and 33% of road traffic collisions involve somebody who was using the road for work purposes.

• 61% of at-work drivers also admit to regularly leaving less than a two-second gap, compared to 40% of drivers who don’t drive for work

• 63% Almost two-thirds of all work-related fatalities involve workplace transport according to 2008 figures from the Health & Safety Authority (Ireland)
  
  (Source: Driver Focus Ireland)