No So Smart Phone Selfies

Campaigners call for tougher penalties for motorists taking selfies.

21:24 26 July 2015

A study participated by 500 drivers revealed that almost one in 10 motorists have taken selfies while they’re driving while 8per cent admitted making calls. Meanwhile, 7per cent said they had watched videos or TV programmes and 18per cent had accessed the internet while driving.

 

The survey found that 15per cent of offenders were between the ages of 18 and 24 while 19per cent were between 25 to 35-years-old.

 

Sarah Sillars, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, which did the research, said: “Everyone knows how dangerous using a smartphone or tablet is while driving.

“That’s why it’s shocking to see new trends like taking selfies and making video calls becoming common practice.

 

“Safe driving is everyone’s responsibility and more must be done to catch driversusing these devices dangerously by increasing the fines and points for smartphone and tablet use at the wheel – there is simply no excuse.

 

“Campaigns must also be introduced that raise awareness of the prevalence of the issue in society and make this behaviour socially unacceptable as drink-driving.”