Use of Cellphone While Driving Rings Grave

Cell phone use has grown dramatically in the country and at last count the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that there are over 130 million active mobile phone subscribers.

This means that almost every citizen of Nigeria with a population of just over 170 million has a phone line.

The increase has also led to a substantial increase in cell phone use while driving and distracted driving-related deaths.

At any one time on Nigerian roads, some 30 per cent of drivers are talking on cell phones, making them 12 times as likely to crash.

Far too many people are losing their lives every day, every week, every month and every year through accidents on Nigerian roads.

Road traffic accidents are a significant cause of injury and death in Nigeria. The yearly statistics on road accidents are frightening. In fact it is feared that accident related cases is only second to death from malaria attack every year.

World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that Nigeria has over 32,000 deaths due to road accidents every year.

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that old, rickety and badly maintained vehicles are the second largest cause of road accidents in Nigeria; the major is bad roads and carelessness, including the use of cellphone on wheels.

The rising risks of talking on mobile phones whilst driving is grave but Nigerians have kept talking on wheels.

The ludicrous stupidity of using a mobile phone while affects the ability of the driver to concentrate and anticipate the road ahead, thereby putting the driver and other road users at risk.

It is illegal in many countries including Nigeria to use mobile phone whilst driving but few are usually prosecuted in the country for dangerous or careless driving.

The safest approach on wheels is to switch off the phone, alternatively, drivers can use voicemail or message service to access missed calls when they stop or at the end of your journey

Importantly, if you must take the call inform the caller that you are driving and that you wish to keep the conversation short and simple.

It is also important to provide driver education at all levels because the habit of talking while driving cuts across the entire divide.

There should be also appropriate punishment for any road indiscipline to serve as a deterrent to others.