An Australian road safety campaigner whose daughter was killed on the side of a motorway is urging drivers to change their behaviour behind the wheel, saying he wants to see the return of “old school” police tactics.
A new survey for National Road Safety Week (NRSW), running until May 24, found that 92 per cent of drivers agree that using a mobile phone while driving is dangerous, while a high proportion admit to texting while behind the wheel.
Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) Group founder Peter Frazer told Yahoo News “old school” police tactics should be used in conjunction with mobile detection cameras, in a bid to catch drivers’ dangerous behaviours.
“I advocate for things that change behaviour, and the most important one is ‘anytime, anywhere’, let’s move the systems around, so that people have to change their own behaviour,” Peter said.
“That will have a big effect, not just on speed, but on mobile phone distraction.
“We’ve got a notice board at 150 metres saying you’re coming up to a camera that’s going to measure your speed. How stupid is that?”
Following Sarah’s tragic death, Peter and his family vowed to contribute to improving road safety outcomes through policy development, community education, and advocacy. Source: Supplied
Yellow ribbons in memory of Sarah’s death
On February 15, 2012, Peter’s daughter, Sarah, was killed at the age of 23 in a completely avoidable road crash on the Hume Highway, south of Mittagong, in NSW.
Following the tragedy, he and his family vowed to contribute to improving road safety outcomes through policy development, community education, and advocacy.
This week, thousands of yellow ribbons will be displayed across hundreds of buildings, icons and bridges in Australia for National Road Safety Week.
The colour yellow was an easy pick for Peter, who said it was Sarah’s favourite colour.
Survey finds Aussies texting while stopped at red light
Last year, more than 1,300 Australians died on roads, and another 40,000 were seriously injured.
Traffic injury is the biggest killer of Australian children under 15 and the second-biggest killer of all Australians aged between 15 and 24.
The NRSW survey also found that 50 per cent of Gen Z and 40 per cent of Millennials admit to taking photos or videos while driving.
A staggering 63 per cent of Gen Z texts while stopped at a red light, 52 per cent among Millennials.
Peter said the statistics were “unbelievable and extraordinary”.
“You think to yourself, what’s driving that compulsive behaviour that they believe they need to go on their phone, and I think part of it is probably you know sharing on TikTok or Instagram?” he said.
Has a road incident changed your life? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com
Peter Frazer wants to see “old school” police tactics used with mobile detection cameras in a bid to catch offending drivers. Source: NSW Police Force
“As if they have no control over their compulsion to actually use their mobile phones in ways that 93 per cent of Australians, all of which is appropriately illegal.
“One of the things that we’re asking people to do is to have to think about the fact that it’s not just you or your passengers, you’re putting into danger, but everyone else on the road ahead.
“Too many people have lost their lives because of both speed and distraction, and distraction is ever-growing in those statistics.”
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Victorian drivers are most likely to check their phones within a few minutes of receiving a notification at 25 per cent, followed by NSW at 23 per cent, and Western Australia at 16 per cent.
About one in three Australians (39 per cent) would support banning phones from cars while driving, with 45 per cent of Gen Z and 43 per cent of Millennials and Gen X agreeing.
Drivers urged to swap phone for bluetooth alternatives
Peter said it’s time to address mobile phone use after seeing a surge in addicted drivers who should resort to Bluetooth car options.
“I use the example of this gentleman in a brand-new BMW M3, speeding past and holding his mobile phone in front of him in a vehicle that you can talk to and get it to do anything,” he said.
Peter Frazer said that everyone has a right to get home safe to their loved ones every day. Source: Supplied
“People are addicted to their phones… It’s an incredible instrument, use it via Bluetooth.
“Don’t touch your phone, and if you need to actually touch it, stop and actually do it so that everyone else on the road ahead is safe, and that’s our key to getting everyone home safe.”
He said that too many modern cars have technology that is becoming more of a distraction. He said that in a Tesla, you have to use the touchscreen to open the glove box.
“We’ve gotta go back, and as it’s been pushed in Europe right now, to appropriate knobs and handles to be used.
“That’s absolutely the way that we should be doing things so that I don’t need to take my eyes off the road at any point in time.”
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