More than twice as many drivers were caught using their phone while driving during Operation Fatal Distraction last week, compared to the same operation in January 2022.
From Monday 21 March until Sunday 27 March 2022, police conducted state-wide traffic Operation Fatal Distraction with a focus on motorists committing distraction based offences in relation to mobile phone use.
257 drivers were detected interacting with social media, reading messages or any other mobile phone-related behaviour while driving which may cause inattention.
In 2021, Police detected 4,595 drivers who thought it would be a smart idea to use their phone while driving, whilst 24 people lost their lives and 203 people were seriously injured in crashes where distraction was a contributing factor in the same year.
Superintendent Bob Gray, Officer in Charge of the Traffic Services Branch, says these results are alarming and frustrating.
“Drivers need to realise that using a mobile phone while driving can have very serious consequences, not only for those who use them but also for other road users,” Superintendent Gray says.
“Too many drivers think it is acceptable to send a quick text message or check their social media while they are driving or while they are waiting at traffic lights because they are not moving, but it is not. Drivers need to pay attention to the road and their surrounds at all times to respond quickly to changes in traffic and to drive safely.
“We ask all drivers to make responsible and safe choices, to ignore their phones while driving and to pull over, if it really can’t wait,” says Superintendent Gray.
During the previous Operation Fatal Distraction in January this year, 112 drivers were detected for a distraction offence.
