“I thought it was
OK to use it whilst
stuck in traffic”
“I have to work while
I’m on the road”
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•
Many drivers seem to have been influenced by media representations
of roads policing as unpopular and unjustified. However, we know that
there is also a lot of support ‘out there’, as evidenced by things like dash
cam (third party) reporting projects. It is worth pointing out how many
drivers are now equipping themselves with dash cams and helmet
cam technologies to help co-produce road safety with the police.
There is plenty of academic literature supporting the idea that most
people want to be part of the ‘in-group’, so if we can create the impression
that the majority are law-abiding and endorse roads policing, the
social norms perspective tells us that they should want to join that
group and distance themselves from the ‘out-group’ of offenders.
•
•
This was a particularly common misconception that we discovered
during the research and seems to stem from a mixture of lack of
awareness of the law, and ‘common sense’ logic that says that this is a
harmless activity. It’s important to explain to drivers it is unsafe to
use a phone whilst the vehicle is not moving, not just to point out
that that is the law. Even stationary users can make mistakes and
respond inappropriately because their concentration has been
diverted to their phone. They can drive off at the wrong time, make
sudden lane changes, fail to see vulnerable road users and miss
changing traffic lights, for example.
It is also worth reminding these drivers that their internal conversation
with themselves about mobile use should be about safety and not
legality - their primary motivation should be safe driving, not what they
think they can and cannot ‘get away with’ according to the law. Putting
the phone out of reach is one of the more effective strategies that this
group can be offered, alongside reminders within the car of why they need
to resist temptation even when sitting around apparently doing nothing.
•
•
Individuals that claim this need to be reminded of the legal and
employment consequences associated with offending. You could ask
them how they would get to work or do their job if they didn’t have a
driving license. Some drivers would lose their job if they accumulated
points on their license. There’s no point using the excuse of trying to
keep your job to justify doing something that puts your job at risk!
Suggest an App or phone setting that automatically sends a message to
a caller informing them that they are driving, and that safety is important