Interviewer: 60 Minutes presents a live interview with Joel Neilsen from Safe Drive Training Australia.
Interviewer: Joel thank you for talking to us tonight, in our live online chat room.
Joel Neilsen: Welcome and let’s talk about safe driving and distracted driving.
MsDaisy says: I applaud the story tonight and the very graphic advertising campaign should be screened here continually in an attempt to convince people that mobile phone use while driving is so dangerous. Are there any steps in place to have a campaign like this?
Joel Neilsen: The advertisement that aired on the show is actually from the UK police, who collaborated with an insurance company and it was only released last week and I guess it sets a benchmark for police and insurance companies to collaborating and develop a joined initiative. In my opinion, I don’t think the length between police and insurance companies are not yet strong enough to mimic the UK campaign.
Tomahawk says: Joel Do you really think that was a valid test. i can't see people on the roads swerving in and out of witches hats while on there phone?
Joel Neilsen: Firstly, the simulated test is the best option. But what we were trying to show and the shrinking of tonight’s footage just for tonight’s program did now show all of the trials taken. And our key message was to show that with a leading racing driver that even his skills suffered from mobile phone use. Lately, additional tests were done on the day, programming a GPS system, testing, answering a phone call and making general discussion with a passenger in the car.
Travelchick1 says: I totally agree with the mobile phones but also keep in mind the general public also think "that will never happen to me" and i do think that is arrogant what makes them think they wont have an accident?
Joel Neilsen: I totally agree, our company does a lot of driver training programs for young drivers and that attitude is so prevalent. And there are many more distractions just as the phone, but the phone is the key target of this story.
shanefromoz says: What about people smoking in cars, how dangerous is that?
Joel Neilsen: I have no research on the topic, but from experiencing in conducting in advanced driver training courses, we’ve had many participates over the years smoke during the practical session to the point where some people had the ash from their cigarette fall between their lap during emergency car control tests. Let me tell you that was distracting when deciding whether to save the car or the groin.
xxsamboraxx says: Wouldn’t just talking to anybody be a distraction?
Joel Neilsen: That is a common response from participates in our training courses. The difference often is the nature of the discussion and the wiliness of the passenger to be quiet and allow drivers to deal with complex situations compared to the compulsion of the driver to continue talking on a phone. But a phone call with “I’ll be home soon” should be less distracting than an argument or serious business discussion, or any emotional connection such conversations can have with the brain.
MsDaisy says: Do you know if laws that cover driving and using a mobile phone different in each state or are the laws the same nation wide?
Joel Neilsen: I believe the laws are the same, but the penalties are different (in terms of money and demerit points). You can download off the Federal Transport department website, the national road rules that apply across Australia.
rjolliffe says: Do you think that there is too much focus on speed enforcement rather than distraction type offences by the police? In my experience more crashes are caused by distraction rather than speed, but how do we change the perception amongst the public and governments that speed is the main cause of crashes?
Joel Neilsen: It’s a very good point. I agree there is an over emphasis on speeding. Unfortunately the road safety policy makers seem addicted to the flow of research money and that often comes from those areas that are of greater public concern, and seeing a card disintegrate in a suburb street focuses attention to speeding, unfortunately to the detriment of monitoring other causes of crashes.
leeman says: Why don’t they make driver assist technology mandatory? i.e. road sensing technology, positioning between other cars, moving and non-moving objects? Do you know if any studies have shown the cost benefits of introducing these technologies to vehicles?
Joel Neilsen: I believe there are laws being drafted and discussed for the compulsory fitment of such technologies. But unfortunately our comparative old vehicle fleet and small population means that these things often take time to filter down from premium vehicles. There is good data from the USA and Europe showing strong benefits from such technology.
toby119 says: My kids in the back seat distract me all the time is this the same as being distracted by a mobile phone, this was not mentioned in the segment?
Joel Neilsen: Again, the focus of this story was the phone, 60 Minutes have in the past focused on other causes of crashes and it is agreed that distractions can take many forms, from pets, music, to children and even reaching for the object of your desire on the passenger floor. There is strong data that shows that a physical movement and the associated distracted is even more impairing than the phone. i.e. reaching for your handbag.
vevapower says: Had a discussion with my wife and I said that I would say that young girls are more likely to text while driving then young boys. Is this a fair statement or are both as bad as each other?
Joel Neilsen: I do not know of any research but anecdotally from my experience, I agree. There has been a study which shows young men see themselves AS the car, whereas young ladies driving see themselves as the operator of the machine. Therefore men see the car as an extension of their own agility and dexterity and possibility see the impairment from the phone more as they believe they are the car.
bronte says: Why is there so much distracting equipment available when they are potential killers? In dash DVD players in full view of the driver! Add a phone and it could be very deadly!
Joel Neilsen: It comes back to consumerism and good marketing by manufactures and the human desire to have the latest technology available, such marketing gurus play on the quick up take of some people to look “cooler”, so we as humans need to look closely at our desires versus what is really necessary.
andyj06 says: In some new cars their is a hands free Bluetooth system which the phone can be connected to which has a microphone in the dash so your not holding the phone, is this still dangerous?
Joel Neilsen: Yes it is, and as Tara Brown said, hands-free is just as dangerous as hands held. The distraction is not the one hand off the steering wheel, it’s how the brain is being used for another complex task. Manufacturers are attempting to do the right thing, and are applying what the laws require them to.
Dave says: Would you think bigger fines and confiscating cars would change behaviours?
Joel Neilsen: In road safety are for 4 years E’s, and that is Engineering, Enforcement, Education and the last one being Everyone. Therefore enforcement of fines and demerit points do have a role to play, but they alone will never be the answer.
Kelvo says: Do you think licences in general are too easy to get?
Joel Neilsen: Yes, in my professional opinion as a driver trainer. It remains fair too easy, in QLD the state transport department has just published a brochure that school should not enroll in driver training programs to teach young drivers emergency breaking, skid control and should not have any shock tactics that might scare novice drivers.
bronte says: Maybe as part of the driving test, learners should do an advanced driving course which hits on today’s real road problems not just being tested to see if they can drive a car?
Joel Neilsen: I wholly agree. My company has been delivering high school based driver training for 14 years and over 35,000 young drivers have participated and we still after 14 years don’t believe the system has improved.
MsDaisy says: Why are the laws not changed regarding Bluetooth and hands free options in new cars, so that these are disabled?
Joel Neilsen: It comes back to public will, and consumers’ desire of such technology. We all have the individual choice to delete or not use and as the story shows, there are technologies being developed to block phone calls to vehicles as with many technologies, the uptake rates will be by those wanting to be safe and responsibly and those ultimately more at risk will only use these technologies when they are mandatorily forced upon them.
storm says: The thing that I would like to know is with the statistics they reported about hands free....what about when u r travelling on your own you listen to music singing at the top of your lung thinking u r great.....my point is to me i think it is the same!!!!!!
Joel Neilsen: I have read some studies, even with regards to University exams that showed a certain level of background music was beneficial. Obviously playing air guitar and singing at the top of your lungs might be as distracting as some types of phone calls.
aussieboi says: It’s not safe to use a mobile phone or any other device even changing the radio station, so how can it be safe for the presenter to drive and look into the camera at the same time? In my point view that is just as bad as using a mobile phone and defeated the purpose of the whole story.
Joel Neilsen: I’m unaware of how that was filmed or where.
brucesky says: Shouldn't regulators force mobile phone companies like Nokia, Samsung, Microsoft, etc to come up with better technical solutions to help solve this problem?
Joel Neilsen: Yes they should, but this would be lead by again the consumers’ requires for such options via both politicians and manufacturers and the continual independent research that will hopefully one day result in an amended policy. The last thing is we don’t treat the motor vehicle as a machine the same as a plane in our minds.
SA_proud says: You have proven it is dangerous to drive and use a phone - it is illegal (at least in SA) but the Police are exempt!! Isn’t that more dangerous?
Joel Neilsen: Yes, police are exempted from many road rules in the execution of their duty. This has to be weighted up versus their need to protect and service versus the danger they pose on other drivers. For example it is not good practice for a police to be 1 minute fining motors for speeding, and then speeding themselves.
Danstar says: If there is an accident and one person is on the phone, but didn't cause the accident, are they to blame because they were using a phone?
Joel Neilsen: Witnesses can attest to their phone use, their phone records could be obtained for court use. Unfortunately (I sound cynical) but many traffic accidents are not thoroughly investigated as to the real causes.
Dave_W says: There seems to be more and more people driving one handed whilst talking on the phone these days. The laws don't seem to be working, as no-one is taking any notice of them. Do you have any suggestions on how to combat this problem?
Joel Neilsen: One option being that many cars on the road are company vehicles, a good starting point is that those large companies that have safe driving policies which address mobile phone usage and therefore make it against company policies to use when driving. The companies many find the reduction in crashes and subsequent insurance benefits which hopefully will flow through to smaller companies from the lessons learnt. Private car uses on the other hand???
Brett says: Joel: I don't disagree with the fact that mobiles distract, but how do you discriminate between the distraction caused by a hands-free mobile and that caused by one (or more) passengers? Surely if hands-free chat is so dangerous, then passenger conversation (etc) would be equally so? How can you police these things?
Joel Neilsen: We have to draw a line in the sand about the technology and the level of distraction that is related to the emotional complexity of the discussion. It is agreed that some in car communication between passengers and drivers can be very impairing, but at least in these situations the passengers will feel the consequences and hopefully with more education of novice drivers we can show the role that passengers play in safe driving.
trojan09 says: I often see truck drivers on the phone in the right-hand lane up some one’s backend. Truck drivers need heavier fines and more training do you agree?
Joel Neilsen: Yes I agree, and have heard of many interstate truck drivers watching the latest DVDs on in car screens as they cruise our highways. A recipes for disasters.
Interviewer: I am sorry we are out of time, do you have anything else you would like to share before we finish tonight?
Joel Neilsen: This week I was sadden to hear of the passing of a great road safety professional Frank Gardiner, former racing driver and driver trainer had the catch phase, “When you put the car in gear you need to put your mind in gear as well”. Never could such a statement be more true and we as road users need to ask ourselves if our actions are really worth it, what is the benefit of this action and what is the potential consequences. And until a risk analyse is done we will continue to have people making more judgments, when years ago we all survived without our technology. And in some ways were better off for it. Thanks for your input, it’s been a pleasure chatting with like-minded and concerned motors and drive like everyone is out to get you because if you don’t, they WILL. Stay safe.
Interviewer: Once again thank you and goodnight.
Interviewer: This concludes our chat with Joel Neilsen, Sunday September 6, 2009.
