Navigating phone use while driving

Drivers are not allowed to put their smartphones on their laps as this may distract them and cause an accident. Picture posed for illustration purpose. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

Use holder properly and don’t pick up or fiddle with device, warn police

HOW many of us glance at our phones while driving, either to read a message, answer a call or check our navigation route?

When I stop at the red lights, I will look around and usually chuckle because I can see almost every driver around me looking at their phones.

I am not taking a holier-than-thou stance because I am equally guilty.

In my line of work as a journalist, I constantly have to visit new places and one wrong turn on my way can result in minutes lost.

So I am guilty of swiping the phone screen to check my route, and I give myself a mental kick in the butt every time because I know it is wrong.

These days, I put my phone at my dashboard gauge, which is somehow just the right size for it.

This helps but I try to not look at the screen while driving, and let the “navigation lady” tell me where to turn.

I am sometimes distracted by a buzz from my phone and when I stop at traffic lights, I do take a glance but I never touch my phone to check messages while the light is red.

When people use the phone at the red light, they can get distracted and do not notice the light turning green.

This can cause a holdup, which may seem harmless but there is a risk of causing a fender bender.

When the phone rings, I make full use of my Bluetooth connection and speak through the car speaker system.

All of us occasionally handle our phones while driving, even when we know it is wrong.

However, the main question is – are we cautious just because we fear getting a summons from the police or do we understand the serious harm we can cause not just to ourselves but to other road users?

Recently, The Star reported that a woman on holiday in Penang got a summons to appear at a magistrate’s court for holding her phone up while negotiating a roundabout.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Soffian Santong explained that one should use a phone holder in such a way that the driver could still see the road while glancing at the screen for navigation help.

“The phone cannot be on your lap while navigating, because you will have to look down to the screen and thus, take your eyes off the road. This can lead to an accident.”

Using the phone while driving is not a compoundable offence; drivers must answer to a magistrate.

ACP Soffian said even though a properly positioned phone on a holder was allowed for navigation, drivers must not be fiddling with the screen for no reason.

“If you are occupied adjusting the phone, you can knock into someone,” he said.

He also said drivers were not allowed to pick up their handphones while waiting at a red light.

“We issue summonses because we want to keep our roads safe for all,” he added.

Anyone charged with using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle can be fined up to RM1,000 (RM300 minimum) or sentenced to a maximum three months’ jail term if found guilty.

Second-time offenders can be fined up to RM2,000 and a jail term not exceeding six months, or both.

To me, it is not really about the money we have to fork out if caught, but about not wanting to endanger other road users.

I am not sure what will motivate you to stop checking your phone while driving but for me, this is more than enough.

So please be more considerate to others on the road.