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Don ’ t Stream and Drive
The # DontStreamAndDrive campaign initially began as a hashtag on twitter . Neil Dewson-Smyth - the founder and a keen social media user - was drawn to the increasing use of live video across social media platforms . As he began to explore live video and how it could be utilised he began to notice that some people were live streaming video whilst driving . This is a form of mobile phone ‘ use ’ that perhaps doesn ’ t occur to us straight away , and that many campaigns and projects haven ’ t addressed .
It was clear from the outset that traditional communication methods were not suited to this campaign . The message had to get to the people within the livestreaming community and that meant taking it into social media where the problem existed . The campaign started with Neil challenging users about their driving / livestreaming behaviour in the hope he could get them to stop .
The message and awareness of it across social media continued to grow and , in 2016 , the hashtag was consolidated into one campaign day to specifically target this danger on our roads . The campaign runs all year round and has reached well in excess of 100 million people on Twitter . The campaign has gained the support of many police forces , ambulance trusts , fire and rescue services , road safety organisations and many others across the UK and beyond .
The wider use of the mobile phone by drivers is an increasing threat . Many drivers experience self enhancement bias and as such recognise the dangers but may well still go on to use their phone behind the wheel . The age old belief is that these things happen to other people .
Most campaigning and road safety material around phone use by drivers focusses on calls and texts . It often depicts the driver holding the phone . Many livestreaming drivers therefore do not associate their behaviour with that depicted as the phone is often not hand held . They often conclude that they are safe which couldn ’ t be further from the truth .
For more information visit : www . dontstreamanddrive . com or follow @ SgtTCS
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