Toledo, October 10, 2023.- The subdelegate of the Government in Toledo, Carlos Ángel Devia, accompanied by the provincial head of Traffic, Eva María Moreno, and by the president of Castilla-La Mancha de Aspaym (Association of Paraplegic and Large Physically Handicapped), José Ramón del Pino, presented this morning, in the control installed in the roundabout to the municipality of Bargas of the CM-406, the new campaign of the DGT on Distractions at the Wheel, which will last until October 15.
The Government’s deputy delegate stressed that these campaigns launched by the DGT have good results and impact on citizens, “since, in this case, referring to distractions at the wheel, in the previous year’s campaign only 1% of drivers in intercity roads were sanctioned and this shows that we are raising awareness with good results to drivers about what does not have to be done.”
Carlos Ángel Devia has warned of the danger of distractions at the wheel in road safety, since it increases the risk of accident while driving, as well as the severity of injuries in accidents, the most common accidents being exits of the road, followed by crashes or reaches to other vehicles and pedestrian violations.
In this sense, he explained that the simple fact of answering a call to the mobile or sending a message, multiplies by six the risk of suffering a fatal accident and if we already dial a phone number the risk factor multiplies by 12.
Thirty-three percent of fatal accidents, he added, are caused by distractions at the wheel, surpassing those caused by alcohol or drug use.
Carlos Ángel Devia has stated that distractions at the wheel are the first factor in traffic accidents, especially in those accidents with fatalities, and among the most common causes are the misuse of mobile phones, GPS browsers, or other devices, everything, in short, that involves turning away the view from the road.
On the other hand, the provincial head of Traffic of Toledo, Eva María Moreno, has thanked the collaboration of the local police who have communicated their adherence to this campaign of the DGT in their respective municipal terms, since it is very important to transfer this awareness to drivers on urban roads.
"According to European studies - explained the provincial head of Traffic - almost 50% of drivers use mobile phones while driving and this percentage is very high. As a result, an amendment to the Traffic Law was introduced, increasing the penalty for the withdrawal of points for the use of the mobile during driving.”
Applicable regulations
The Law on Traffic, Circulation of Motor Vehicles and Road Safety establishes as a serious infringement:
- Driving using any type of audio helmet or headset connected to sound receiving or reproducing devices or other devices that diminish permanent attention to driving.
- Use, holding it by hand, or keeping it adjusted between the helmet and the head of the user, mobile telephone devices while driving, driving manually using mobile telephone devices in conditions other than the above, driving manually using navigators or any other means or communication system, as well as carrying in the vehicles radar detection mechanisms or kinemometers.
The aforementioned infractions are punishable by a fine of 200 euros and after the reform of the Law of Permit by Points, the number of points was modified as a sanction in relation to the use of the mobile while driving, going from three to six points.