If you have a tendency to get distracted while driving, you could be hit with a pretty serious fine!
When you think of dangerous driving, you probably think of people driving while intoxicated, speeding or driving without a licence, but it turns out that the majority of dangerous drivers are people doing things most of us might consider routine. They’re every day habits that can seem harmless, but according to police, they can have deadly consequences.
Losing Focus
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy told A Current Affair, “People eating, people putting on makeup, talking to people in the back seat or being distracted by others in the car are just some of the things taking driver focus off the road.”
A Current Affair’s investigation found a woman driving with her knees while eating a McFlurry and texting, a tradie writing notes and talking on the phone, and countless people eating lunch with barely an elbow on the wheel. We all know that life is only getting more hectic, and people have less and less time, but taking such a risk and putting others in danger seems like a step too far to save a couple of precious minutes.
Paying The Price
It turns out that these apparently harmless, yet dangerous habits could end up costing you big, as reported on 9News. Depending on where you live, the fine for being caught driving any vehicle without being in full control could reach hundreds of dollars. “Driving any vehicle, you have to be in full control and when you get in the car, you’ve got to say to yourself, this is a dangerous thing I’m going to be doing, I need to concentrate fully,” the Assistant Commissioner said.
If you’re found ‘driving without proper control of a vehicle’ you’ll be booked. In NSW, it’s a fine of $448 plus three demerit points, the same penalty in the ACT, a whopping $600 in WA, a $500 fine and three points in the Northern Territory, $184 in South Australia and $387 plus three demerit points in Victoria.
The message to take away? Nothing is more important than being safe while driving. Not your makeup, your phone, nothing. If you really need to take your hands off the wheel and it can’t wait until your destination, pull over. Your safety and the safety of others is worth being late for.
Are you guilty of getting distracted while driving? Tell us in the comments.
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