IN support of Swindon banning speed cameras, Association of British Drivers spokesman Brian Gregory said: “Most accidents are caused because drivers are unable to concentrate on the road because they are looking for speed cameras.”
Given that there has recently been a report that some 50 per cent of drivers are seriously distracted by in-car technology, would the Association of British Drivers support a move to ban all in-car technology — not least the mobile phone?
Texting while driving has been shown by the Transport Research Laboratory to slow a driver’s reaction time by 35 per cent. Reaction time for drivers at the drink-drive limit is slowed by 12 per cent (80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood being the legal limit).
One milligram of alcohol over the limit — effectively 12 per cent slower reaction time — means a 12-month driving ban, so shouldn’t the 35 per cent slower reaction time of testing while driving mean a three-year ban?
If pulling down speed cameras is “about establishing respect with the motorists”, as Anthony Harris, transport chief for Walsall Council (also considering a speed camera ban) puts it, how would he get motorists to respect the mobile phone ban and respect vulnerable road users?
Dave Jones Olsberg Close Radcliffe
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