Driver distraction and inattention is a significant road safety risk. On average inattention is identified as a contributing factor in around half of all lives lost and over a third of serious injuries on South Australian roads.
The use of mobile phones while driving creates distractions from the important task of driving. The ability to react to other vehicles, judge distances, maintain a constant speed and steady position in the lane are made much more difficult if you are using a mobile phone at the same time.
Research has found that mobile phone use while driving increases the risk of having a crash where someone is injured up to four-fold, while texting increases the crash risk even further.