Green and Red Thumb Day Mayo road safety campaign
A ROAD safety campaign has been launched in Mayo to coincide with Mayo Day this weekend.
The My Green and Red Thumb #Mayoday campaign is designed to raise awareness of the risks of distraction from using a mobile phone while driving.
The aim is to reach as many road users as possible and to encourage people to change their habits.
My Green and Red Thumb Day will take place on Friday, April 30, and will be promoted though social media and in schools and work places, asking people to give the thumbs up by painting their thumb red and green in a build up to Mayo Day (Saturday, May 1).
Mayo Day is a celebration of our 'Mayo-ness' in communities worldwide, and the county's road safety office is looking for all Mayo people to lead the way in road safety by painting their thumbs red and green and promoting the lifesaving message - do not use a phone when driving.
You are invited to share your thumb selfies via Twitter, Facebook and any other social media platform. It is also hoped that businesses will embrace My Green and Red Thumb Day - share your images of your workforce sporting red and green thumbs for the day.
Talking, texting or tweeting while driving can easily distract us from the task at hand, with sometimes serious consequences. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of fatal car crashes in Ireland.
Said Noel Gibbons, road safety officer, Mayo County Council: “While the campaign was launched in response to a local need, based upon an evidence led approach, it is clear that the message is transferable to other areas and it is hoped that the campaign will continue to spread as it has continued to take off in the USA.”
Drivers who use their phone are four times more likely to crash, injuring or killing themselves and/or other people. They are much less aware of what is happening on the road around them and fail to see road signs as well as failing to maintain proper lane position and steady speed, according to research.
“Driving requires full concentration at all times. Responsible drivers switch off their phones whilst driving. If you must keep your phone switched on, we recommend that you pull over where it is safe and convenient to do so to make or receive a call. This should be in emergency situations only. We are asking all road users to put the phone away when using the road.”
Tips for safe mobile phone use:
1. Check the facts. “Can I text at a stoplight?” “Is using the speakerphone safe?” http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Campaigns/Mobile%20Phone/RSA_Mobile_DL.pdf
2. Place calls before you drive. Make any important calls before leaving the car park, office or home. Otherwise, wait until you get to your destination.
3. Set a reminder. Download free app to prevent texting and driving.
4. Pull over to make or receive a call. If you must make or receive a call while in your car, pull over to the side of the road once it is safe. Make sure you’re safely off to the side so you’re not posing a danger to other vehicles.
5. Take a message. Let your phone pick up your calls and text messages. It’s easy and much safer to retrieve your messages at a later time.
6. Ask your passengers. If there are passengers in the vehicle, let them make and receive calls and texts for you.
7. Plan to avoid distraction. Turn your mobile phone off or place it in the trunk of your car so you won’t be tempted to talk, email or text when you’re on the road.