Views: 14
The study “Use the network responsibly” unveiled the cell phone usage habits of drivers and revealed that the main reasons are the use of maps, answering or making calls, sending messages or voice notes and manipulating music.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), manipulating a cell phone while driving is similar to drunk driving, recreating similar behaviors such as loss of reflexes while driving.
In the framework of the celebration of Fiestas Patrias, a date in which there is an increase in the number of road accidents, WOM with the support of the National Traffic Safety Commission (Conaset) and the NGO NoChat, launched the study “Use the network responsibly”, which reveals the habits of cell phone use of drivers and identifies potential behaviors that could be risky.
With this initiative, WOM becomes the first telco to make a call not to use its network while driving, extending its commitment to deliver the best service at a fair price with the safety and welfare of people. Among the main findings of the study – conducted by Cadem to a universe of 700 people across the country – highlights that: four out of ten people use their cell phone while driving a vehicle, highlighting the north of Chile with 59%; and 50% of respondents acknowledged using their cell phone at least once while driving and the main reasons are the use of maps, answer or make calls, send messages or voice notes and manipulate the music.
“Manipulating the cell phone while driving, even if it is to send a voice message, can be fatal. For example, answering a simple ‘hello’ takes about 5 seconds; if we drive at 50 km/hour, that time represents 70 meters totally blind, a distance in which many things can happen that we will not be able to avoid”, indicates the executive secretary of Conaset, Karina Muñoz, who emphasizes that when we move, “our attention must be on the road and the environment, especially when we drive a motor vehicle, because of the potential impact that we can cause. Being attentive allows us to react in time to any unforeseen event and avoid a road accident”.
The study becomes even more relevant when considering that 95% of those surveyed perform these actions despite being fully aware of the ‘No Chat’ law, which prohibits driving a vehicle while using a cell phone device or any other electronic device.
“For us as a No Chat NGO, manager of the No Chat Law, this study reinforces that we must continue to deepen their knowledge, but especially the associated risk involved in manipulating the cell phone while driving, considering that inattentive driving is the leading cause of road accidents and the 2nd most deadly in Chile. We thank WOM, the first telecommunications company that commits and makes a direct call to users/customers of mobile devices to use them responsibly. We are convinced that public, private and civil society collaboration on road issues is key to achieve healthy behaviors”, said Claudia Rodriguez, Executive Director of NGO No Chat.
Likewise, 86% of those surveyed believe that telecommunications companies should play an active role in generating greater awareness and responsibility in the use of cell phones while driving. “At WOM we work to connect people, but we also want to promote the responsible use of our network. With this study we seek to warn and prevent the risk of using cell phones while driving a vehicle, avoiding distractions and with them accidents. We invite all people not to use the network while driving, not only on celebration dates, but to make it a good practice,” said Niklas Lind, CMO of WOM.
The study “Use the net responsibly” also revealed that people between 30 and 50 years of age are the ones who use their cell phones the most while driving, with 45%; while 23% of those surveyed say they do so, despite being aware of the danger it represents.
It should be noted that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the manipulation of a cell phone while driving is similar to drunk driving, recreating similar behaviors such as the loss of reflexes while driving. Without going any further, according to Conaset figures, last year 284 people died in traffic accidents caused by not being attentive to traffic conditions.
