With more than a third of Australians having admitted to using their phones while driving, it seems drivers can’t resist checking their phones while behind the wheel.
In a bid to curb on-road mobile phone distraction, the Western Australian government is trialling designated texting bays for drivers.
The West Australian Road Safety Commission (RSC) is trialling the five bays until April 28, at which time they will evaluate the effectiveness of the idea.
The bays will be located at points along the South Western highway and Forrest highway in the state’s South West and Peel regions.
Road Safety Commissioner Kim Papalia spoke on 2gb Radio saying the trial is based around the need to reduce driver distraction.
“Sadly, 32 per cent of the death and serious injury crashes in WA are a consequence of distraction,” Papalia said.
“Isn’t it tragic – 90 per cent of our population tell us that they know they shouldn’t text while driving, but some 57 per cent of the population according to our research feel that compulsion to check their text messages.
“We’re trying to separate driving and having your eyes off the road and looking at the screen on your text.
“It is about that separation.
Talking to ABC’s Saturday AM, Papalia explained it’s about giving people a safe opportunity to respond to the compulsion to check their phone.
“It’s a siding on the side of the road that gives people the opportunity to get out of the traffic flow, get off the road, to park lawfully and then enable them to respond to what is a compulsion that people often feel in regard to checking their text message,” he said.