Gardenstate Towing Service Talks Technology and Road Safety
Road safety is always front of mind for a towing service. Here at Gardenstate Towing Service in Melbourne, we see our fair share of road incidents. Our tow truck drivers are often a welcome and supportive helping hand when dealing with a car accident or breakdown on busy Melbourne roads.
Mobile Devices Double Your Crash Risk
Lately, there has been a spate of reports about distracted drivers being a danger on the road. Mobile phones and smartwatches are a common cause of driver distraction. It’s horrifying to think of the number of people who think it is okay to text while being in control of a vehicle. Even a quick glance at your mobile screen can double your crash risk. According to VicRoads if you take your eyes off the road for 2 seconds while driving at 50km/h you will travel 27 meters. At 60km/h you’ll travel 33 meters and at 100km/h you’ll travel 55 metres. Imagine travelling 55 meters before you realise the car in front has slowed significantly. Those 2 seconds are crucial to your reaction time.
It’s not just your reaction time that will be slower; studies have found that the distraction of a phone call while driving can lead to poor decision making. Despite our desire to believe we are capable of doing multiple tasks at once, evidence says otherwise. Concentrating on what you’re saying on the phone means that you’re not fully observing your surroundings. You may misjudge the gap in traffic when you’re trying change lanes or you may drift across lanes. It’s not uncommon for people who are deep in conversation to miss traffic signals and signs. It comes as no big surprise to find that the most common accidents associated with mobile usage are reported as “run off the road” and “rear end”.
Victoria and Road Rules
Victoria has very strict penalties if drivers are caught using mobile phones. If you’re caught using your mobile illegally, you’ll lose 4 demerit points and cop a $484 fine. Touching the screen, even while stationary but not in an official parking bay, is considered an offence. The simple solution is to not touch your screens!
It is illegal to do any of the following on mobile devices:
- Talking
- Texting
- Taking photos or videos
- Playing games
In Victoria, provisional licence holders may not even use fixed (hands-free) mobile phones.
Of course, it’s not just mobile phones and smartwatches that cause distraction. There are plenty of other gadgets that are illegal to use while driving in Victoria. Don’t use units that have visual displays like DVD players and tablets.
Gardenstate Towing
Our towing service operates 24/7 365 days a year. We provide vehicle towing, roadside assistance and 24-hour manned storage.
