The National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), the National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Public Security Police (PSP) launch today (May 7), the Road Safety Campaign “At the wheel, your cell phone can wait”, included in the 2024 National Inspection Plan (PNF).
This campaign aims to alert drivers to the negative and even fatal consequences of improper use of a cell phone while driving, according to a statement from the GNR press office, at 50 km/h, looking at your cell phone for three seconds is the even if driving a distance of 42 meters blindfolded, the equivalent of a queue of 10 cars. This practice increases the probability of having an accident by four times, causing an increase in reaction time to unforeseen situations.
The campaign “At the wheel, your cell phone can wait” will integrate:
- ANSR awareness raising activities on the mainland and the services of the regional administrations of the Azores and Madeira;
- Inspection operations by the GNR and the PSP, with a special focus on roads and accesses with high traffic flow and in accordance with the 2024 PNF, in order to contribute to reducing the risk of accidents occurring and to the adoption of safer behaviors on the part of drivers with regard to handling a cell phone while driving.
Awareness-raising actions will take place simultaneously with inspection operations in Lisbon, Portimão, Évora, Portalegre and in the Almodôvar Service Area – North/South.
ANSR, GNR and PSP recall in a statement that using a cell phone while driving is a risk to one’s own safety and that of others:
- Drivers who use their cell phones while driving are slower to recognize and react to dangers;
- Distraction occurs when two mental tasks, driving and using a cell phone, are performed at the same time, which causes lapses in attention and errors in assessment;
- The use of electronic devices while driving causes difficulties in interpreting signs and disregard for the rules on giving way, particularly in relation to pedestrians.
This is the fifth of 12 awareness and inspection campaigns planned for this year under the 2024 PNF. Seven more campaigns will be carried out by the end of the year, one per month, with awareness and inspection actions. The campaigns included in national inspection plans have been carried out annually by ANSR, GNR and PSP, since 2020, with themes defined based on European recommendations established for each year.
