By Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – One in every five Brazilian drivers admits to using a cell phone while driving. The survey, conducted by the Ministry of Health, interviewed over 52,000 people between February and December 2018.
Despite awareness campaigns and the increase in the the applicable classification for fines, which went from average to very severe, with seven points on the record, the number of recorded infractions keeps growing. It increased 24 percent in 2019 over the period from January to March 2018.
A total of 372,300 fines were recorded throughout Brazil, in a total amount slightly over R$293 million.
In Brasília, the enforcement teams use fixed cameras, according to the Ministry, as well as unmarked cars to catch the offenders. Virtually half of all accidents in the Federal District are caused by the use of cell phones behind the wheel.
According to the National Traffic Department (Denatran), using a cell phone while driving increases the risk of accidents by 400 percent, because sending or reading messages dramatically reduces a driver’s reaction time.
For Detran president, Luiz Carlos das Neves, inspection is not the issue: “You may increase the fine, but what is lacking is awareness, to be civil. The person needs to think of others and be responsible”.