Drivers using mobile phones

Mark Harwood, San Ġwann

Is no one in government or the Police Force worried about the fact that the use of mobile phones while driving appears to have become the standard way of getting around our islands?

Is it part of the latest driving instructions: Do not reverse onto a main road, stop at traffic lights when showing a red light, do not forget to use your mobile constantly while driving, especially in built-up areas and when going around bends as this makes driving with one hand lots of fun?

I understand that wardens became ticket-happy when they had the power to issue tickets without stopping the person at the time but if it is a choice between giving wardens back this power and saving the life of one person, then it is worth it. I am sure no one is keeping such statistics but it would be interesting to know how many accidents on the road occur when someone is using the mobile. Must someone die for us to see what is plainly in front of us?

Comments

Liam Kelly (on 20/7/08)

Sorry Mark, absolutely no point trying to preach to the Maltese about road safety!

Apparently, speeding is safe and its the slow people who are dangerous and cause accidents!

With a mentality like that, there is utterly no chance of getting any form of safety present on our roads.

Nathan Young (on 20/7/08)

I agree that using a hanheld mobile phone when driving is very dangerous. however, I believe that using a hands free phone is far less dangerous than talking or arguing with a passenger, having children screaming and fighting in the rear seats or having a dog jumping all over the car.
One of the worst offences is that of driving with a dog or a child on your lap,this is quite common here.
We have two dogs but they travel in the back behind a dog guard.

Carlos Bugeja (on 20/7/08)

It's also very interesting that in Italy, two weeks ago a law was introduced whereby even smoking in cars would be illegal. Is it time for us to follow this or not?

Franco Farrugia (on 19/7/08)

Using the mobile phone while driving has been considered for a long time AS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER ON THE ROADS, WORLDWIDE. This means that, yes, using the mobile phone while driving is much more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol. Hence, it should follow, if we had some common sense, that using the mobile phone should be much more heavily penalised than driving under the influence of alcohol!

In Malta, driving and using the mobile phone is RAMPANT. People ignoring stop signs, ignoring the lights, etc...

Like every other technological improvement in our lives, the mobile phone has brought with it advantages and disadvantages. It does not follow that the invention is bad, in itself; it's just us, people, who abuse it. The mobile phone is also having an adverse effect on marriages and relationships. But nothing is said about this.