Please do not text and drive!

Texting while driving is stupid and a traffic offence. Most errant drivers do it anyway until they are caught, or get hurt or killed in an accident because of the foolhardy act.

UNLESS and until technology advances to an extent that all our cars are equipped with heads-up or projection capability, the mobile phone will be the death of us.

Scientists have already warned us about health risks associated with prolonged usage of cell phones, but there is a clear and present danger when the ubiquitous handphone becomes an unnecessary distraction when driving.

If you think I’m exaggerating, on your next commute, try counting the number of drivers you see on the road who are holding, talking or looking at their phones. I’m willing to bet that this number will be in double digits in the space of five to 10 minutes.

Mobile phone usage while driving has long been reported as dangerous. Studies in Britain and the United States have shown that mobile phone usage causes as many as one in four car accidents. That’s 25% of all accidents involving improper use of a mobile phone in some way.

I’ll hold my hand up and say that I’ve been guilty of texting while driving, too. Yes, my phone automatically connects to the car’s Bluetooth, but even though I’m able to answer calls without touching my phone, the temptation to text or WhatsApp is still strong.

All that has changed because of an incident that happened about two weeks ago. My close friend was involved in a nasty car crash. The accident totalled her car but she was lucky to escape without any serious injury. You guessed it, the cause of the accident was because she was using her smartphone and didn’t see the lorry ahead of her before it was too late.

Her close shave was the hot topic of discussion among our group of friends, and the consensus was that it could have happened to any one of us. I’ve since purchased a phone holder for my car that allows me to position my phone in front of me without having to hold it.

But this phone holder, while allowing me to keep my eyes on the road, has not stopped me from texting and driving. I’ve reduced this dangerous habit but have not completely eliminated it.

Therefore, I think it’s wrong to assume that using a hands-free car kit, where you can talk on the phone without actually touching your mobile phone, is safe. Some studies do show that it’s safer than placing your phone to your ear. However, this does not take into account the sheer number of times we reach for our phones to retrieve a text or to send a message.

The reality is, the mobile phone is a physical and visual distraction – physical because you use your hands on the phone, and this increases the risk of accidents when you’re driving. And it is also a visual distraction because even if you take your eyes off the road for a split second, that act puts you and your fellow motorists in danger.

The police are empowered to fine motorists for use of mobile devices while driving – to the tune of RM300. Personally, I do not believe this is a sufficient deterrent. Speeding will get you fined a similar amount but arguably usage of the phone while driving poses a greater risk compared to speeding.

What bugs me now is the sheer number of people I see on our roads who are risking their lives and others’ by using their handphones while driving. There are no statistics to indicate handphone-related accidents on Malaysian roads, but then these types of accidents usually go unreported.

What we do know is that on an average, 20 people die on Malaysian roads daily! Last year, 7,152 people died in road accidents in Malaysia, up by about 450 deaths compared to 2015. But how many of these deaths are linked to mobile phone usage is anyone’s guess.

Today’s the eve of Chinese New Year and tens of thousands of motorists will flood our highways and roads in the balik kampung rush. With an estimated 1.6 million vehicles using these highways during the festive period, the authorities are already bracing for an increased number of road accidents. While the highway concessionaires have been quick to send out helpful advisories such as do’s and don’ts when driving in the rain or following staggered driving hours, it’s disappointing to note that none of them has issued warnings on mobile phone usage.

To me, the biggest potential cause of accidents are the express bus drivers who use their handphones, oblivious to the fact that they are putting the lives of their passengers as well as fellow motorists at risk.

Perhaps the solution is a complete ban of handheld phone use while driving. The US has already started introducing legislation to this effect – 12 states plus Washington D.C. – have already implemented this ban.

Can we expect this in Malaysia? Don’t hold your breath because we don’t even have a study yet on mobile phone usage and its link to road accidents.

The writer would like his boss to know that if his WhatsApp messages go unanswered, it’s only because he has stopped texting and driving.