A new campaign to combat texting while driving or on a bicycle also targets message senders. They often do not take into account that the person they app is on their way. It could save a lot of accidents and road casualties if they did, thinks Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure).
Research by Motivaction on behalf of the ministry shows that one in three Dutch people does not take into account whether the recipient is en route when sending messages. That is even half among young people. This is despite the fact that nine out of ten respondents are well aware that distraction is a major cause of accidents.
“An accident is a small corner, especially if people are distracted in traffic,” says Harbers. The intention is that people do not read or send messages when they are driving or cycling. “That is not always easy,” said the minister. But he says it can help if family, friends and colleagues know that you are on the road and take this into account.
Since 2018, the government has been pointing out the dangers of digital distraction behind the wheel with the so-called MONO campaign. So far, the campaign has mainly focused on road users themselves. Under the slogan ‘Don’t app me’, the senders are now also more involved.
Anyone who uses a mobile phone behind the wheel of the car risks a fine of 350 euros. The fine on the bicycle is 140 euros. Last year, more than 140,000 vouchers were issued for texting in traffic, this year there were just under 115,000 until August.