Compensation Lawyer in Perth Implores Readers: “Hang Up the Phone.”
Announcement posted by Bradford Legal 09 May 2014
Bradford and Co blog post reveals why mobile phone use while driving can be dangerous and even fatal.
Applecross, WA, 9 May 2014 - Recently, the NSW Centre for Road Safety revealed that mobile phone use while driving had recently become one of the top four causes of fatal road accidents, replacing failure to wear a seatbelt. Texting, talking and surfing the Internet are all included in the category of mobile phone use and all are legally defined as “distractions” in most states. Speeding, drunk driving and driver fatigue are the other top causes for fatal accidents.
It is the opinion of Marg Prendergast, who is the General Manager of the NSW Centre for Road Safety, that mobile phone use is most likely under-reported as a cause of accidents. Ms Prendergast and the NSW Centre for Road Safety have made it their mission to educate drivers about the dangers of mobile phone use while driving. Ms Prendergast feels that drivers are “addicted to their phones” and that drivers are risking their lives and the lives of others every time they use a mobile phone while driving.
Are Fines Working?
Recently in NSW, police issued nearly 1,000 fines for using mobile phones while driving in one day. Nearly 35% of these fines were in the Central Metropolitan Region in Sydney. Even though Sydney has campaigns such as “Get Your Hands Off It” designed to discourage the use of mobile phones while driving, police believe that the large number of fines indicates that the messages aren’t effective enough.
In addition, both police and those who study the effects of mobile phone use while driving believe that many drivers violate the laws, but are becoming more savvy and effective at hiding it from the police.
Perth and WA: What are the Laws?
In WA, it is legal to talk on a mobile phone while driving, but the phone has to be secured or fastened to a mounting or in another way that allows “hands-off” operation of the phone. It is illegal to make or receive a call on a mobile phone while driving if the driver needs to touch the phone to do so.
On the other hand, it is illegal to send or read a text, email or video message at any time while driving, even if the motor vehicle is stationary. A driver may use a mobile phone’s GPS app, but may not touch the phone while doing so.
Are the Laws Necessary?
According to the WA Office of Road Safety, numerous studies have proven that mobile phones are dangerous to use while driving. Some of the reasons include: diminished ability to maintain speed or lane position, longer reaction times to unusual events, missed signs or traffic signals and diminished “road awareness.”
A Compensation Lawyer’s Point of View
Angus Castley, partner at Bradford and Co, a personal injury law firm, agrees that mobile phone use is dangerous while driving and feels that the statistics justify his opinion: “If there was any doubt that it is dangerous to use a mobile phone while driving, this new information should erase it.”
Mr Castley concluded, “Put down the phone and and remember: the life you save may be yours or that of a family member.”
Bradford and Co are compensation lawyers who practise in Perth and handle many cases throughout WA. They were founded in 1991 and specialise in motor vehicle accidents, public liability claims, workers’ compensation, catastrophic injury claims and medical negligence. For more information, call (08) 9316 2299 or visit their website: http://www.bradfordandco.com.au/.
It is the opinion of Marg Prendergast, who is the General Manager of the NSW Centre for Road Safety, that mobile phone use is most likely under-reported as a cause of accidents. Ms Prendergast and the NSW Centre for Road Safety have made it their mission to educate drivers about the dangers of mobile phone use while driving. Ms Prendergast feels that drivers are “addicted to their phones” and that drivers are risking their lives and the lives of others every time they use a mobile phone while driving.
Are Fines Working?
Recently in NSW, police issued nearly 1,000 fines for using mobile phones while driving in one day. Nearly 35% of these fines were in the Central Metropolitan Region in Sydney. Even though Sydney has campaigns such as “Get Your Hands Off It” designed to discourage the use of mobile phones while driving, police believe that the large number of fines indicates that the messages aren’t effective enough.
In addition, both police and those who study the effects of mobile phone use while driving believe that many drivers violate the laws, but are becoming more savvy and effective at hiding it from the police.
Perth and WA: What are the Laws?
In WA, it is legal to talk on a mobile phone while driving, but the phone has to be secured or fastened to a mounting or in another way that allows “hands-off” operation of the phone. It is illegal to make or receive a call on a mobile phone while driving if the driver needs to touch the phone to do so.
On the other hand, it is illegal to send or read a text, email or video message at any time while driving, even if the motor vehicle is stationary. A driver may use a mobile phone’s GPS app, but may not touch the phone while doing so.
Are the Laws Necessary?
According to the WA Office of Road Safety, numerous studies have proven that mobile phones are dangerous to use while driving. Some of the reasons include: diminished ability to maintain speed or lane position, longer reaction times to unusual events, missed signs or traffic signals and diminished “road awareness.”
A Compensation Lawyer’s Point of View
Angus Castley, partner at Bradford and Co, a personal injury law firm, agrees that mobile phone use is dangerous while driving and feels that the statistics justify his opinion: “If there was any doubt that it is dangerous to use a mobile phone while driving, this new information should erase it.”
Mr Castley concluded, “Put down the phone and and remember: the life you save may be yours or that of a family member.”
Bradford and Co are compensation lawyers who practise in Perth and handle many cases throughout WA. They were founded in 1991 and specialise in motor vehicle accidents, public liability claims, workers’ compensation, catastrophic injury claims and medical negligence. For more information, call (08) 9316 2299 or visit their website: http://www.bradfordandco.com.au/.