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Keep Your Eyes On The Road
While this may not sound especially dangerous, it is in fact a serious impediment to road safety and is one that police are increasingly likely to crack down on. There have already been a number of cases across the country of drivers being given on-the-spot fines for eating while driving, and as one police spokesman said, drivers who are eating are far less likely to be fully in control of their vehicle. Don’t eat and drive One woman from the North West of England was recently issued with a fine by a police officer for eating a sandwich while driving between work appointments. The officer told the woman that her behaviour was likely to increase the risk of a car accident and she would be less likely to avoid any oncoming danger like a child that had run into the road. The woman was not only fined in the incident but penalty points were also added on to her license by the officer who charged her with "not being in proper control of a vehicle". "There is no correlation between pushing a button on a radio, or changing gear and eating whilst driving. [The woman] was issued with a fixed penalty for not being in proper control of a vehicle. Each case is treated individually on its merits, but by eating at the wheel a driver is likely to be not in proper control of their vehicle" said a police spokesman." According to research by a leading car insurance company, nearly three quarters of British drivers admit to engaging in some form of dangerous behavior while behind the wheel in the last month. Sainsbury’s Car Insurance noted that eating and drinking was the number one concern, followed by driving while tired. Mobile phones a particular worry A particular worry comes from the 12% of drivers who continue to use mobile phones while driving despite dozens of warnings from police and government about the great increase in car accidents associated with this behavior. Lucy Hunter from Sainsbury’s, said: "People who drive regularly can sometimes become too self-assured behind the wheel, especially if they are driving on roads they know well. Often this leads them to drive in a manner that significantly increases the level of risk to themselves, their passengers and other road users." When behind the wheel it is vital for drivers to keep their full attention on the road and not become sidetracked by gadgets and take their eyes off the road. Thousands of accidents each year could well be avoided if more drivers paid closer attention to driving and this would clearly result in a drop in the number of serious personal injuries and fatalities suffered by motorists and pedestrians alike. She added: "Unfortunately many motorists get distracted too easily whilst driving and don't consider the possible consequences of their actions. We would urge motorists to concentrate at the wheel and not be tempted to engage in anything that could distract them." Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com If you have been injured in a car accident find out if you can receive compensation by speaking to one of our injury lawyers. |
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