Creative distracted driving advert from Australia – Get Your Hands Off It

Transport New South Wales, Australia have released a new advert campaign focusing on distracted driving themed, ‘Get Your Hands Off It’ featuring comedian and film maker Derek Anderson. The advert is a tongue-in-cheek video that is presented as a spoof music video and raising awareness of distracted driving in an alternative and creative manner.

Shared with us by our Western Pacific Regional Coordinatore Mr Joel Tucker (Australia), this new road safety campaign takes an ‘unconventional’ approach to tackling the issue of distracted driving in a creative music video style advert that promotes the cause through humour and spoof comedy.

Distracted Driving forms a key part of our Youth and Road Safety Action Kit:

For example, when talking on a mobile phone, one of your hands is holding the phone; your mind is on your conversation; your attention is on the sounds coming from the phone; and although your eyes are on the road, you will not be really ‘seeing’ what
is happening around you. Using an earpiece will not solve the problem. You still have to press a button to take the call; your attention will still be on the voice of the person talking to you, your mind will be processing what you are hearing, and you’ll be thinking of what to say next. The only distraction you have avoided is that of having to carry the phone in your hand.

The result is that drivers using a phone to talk, text, or browse the internet are less able to stay in the appropriate lane, detect any changes around them and respond in time. Drivers talking on the phone are also more likely to exceed the speed limit and not maintain a consistent speed. When texting, people often drive at lower speeds, but their delayed reaction time and inability to maintain appropriate lane positions and assess traffic conditions still makes texting while driving extremely dangerous.

In New South Wales Australia, the Center for Road Safety explain What mobile phone laws mean in their state:

While your vehicle is moving or stationary (but not parked), as a driver you may only use a mobile phone to make or receive a call or use the audio playing function if:

• the mobile phone is secured in a fixed mounting; or
• the mobile phone does not require you to touch or manipulate the phone in any way.

All other functions including texting, video messaging, online chatting, reading preview messages and emailing are prohibited.

While your vehicle is moving or stationary (but not parked), as a driver you must not hold your mobile phone in your hand other than to pass the phone to a passenger.

A mobile phone’s GPS (or other driver’s aid) function may only be used if: 

• the phone is secured in a commercially designed and manufactured fixed mounting, and
• the mounting is fixed in a location that will not distract or obscure your view in any way, and
• the use of the driver’s aid does not distract you from driving or from being in proper control of your vehicle.