Global campaign urges drivers against use of phone

AMMAN — The Royal Automobile Club of Jordan (RACJ) on Saturday announced its participation in the global “Park Your Phone” campaign that seeks to promote awareness among drivers, pedestrians and cyclist on the dangers of phone use while driving, cycling and walking, a RACJ statement said.

Drivers are four times more likely to crash while on the phone, and accidents due to road user distraction on mobile phones are on the rise. For drivers, pedestrians and cyclists only a few seconds of distraction can mean the difference between life and death, the statement said. 

The RACJ is joining forces with the Automobile Clubs around the world to encourage responsible mobile phone use in traffic under a campaign organised by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

The #ParkYourPhone campaign was officially launched in Brussels DATE and will be rolled out across Europe, the Middle East and Africa throughout the autumn of 2017, the statement added.

For MEP Koch, “mobile phones are increasingly cited as contributing factors in road accidents. Citizens need to be reminded to park their phones while in traffic. There is too much to lose in that moment of distraction. All road users should use their phones responsibly”.

The 10-day campaign will address the issue in the Jordanian context with several activities including lectures, social media activities and awareness raising messages to mobile users, the statement said.

For her part, FIA Regional Director General Laurianne Krid said: “We know that mobile phones are distracting, not only for drivers, but for pedestrians and cyclists too.  #ParkYourPhone is our message to road users that, when they are in traffic, they must remain focused on the road.”

Huda Qasim, general manager of RACJ, said: “Using mobile phones while driving, cycling or walking on roads is distracting and leading to accidents. We all must join forces as mobile users to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.”