The Road Safety Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Works yesterday expressed concern about the increasing number of DVD players being installed in motor vehicles locally, and warned motorists against paying attention to the device instead of their driving.

The Road Safety Unit did not say if there were any fatalities this year because of motorists paying attention to their DVD screens instead of the road.

But it said: “With accident fatalities reaching 244 as of August 1, our drivers could do without the added distraction. It is a fact that distracted drivers contribute to a large number of motor vehicle accidents. Many a fender-bender has occurred while the hurried working woman applies the finishing touches to her make-up and the busy executive is engrossed in a telephone conversation.”

It pointed to the July 2004 trial in Alaska, USA, of Erwin Peterson Jr, who was charged with second-degree murder after his pick-up truck drove across a double yellow line and killed two occupants of a jeep. Peterson was said to be watching a movie on a DVD player, instead of the road.

“Although the defendant was cleared of the charges, the case has drawn attention to the emergence of new obstacles in the struggle to decrease the number of traffic accidents.

“Drivers who have to concentrate on a number of factors such as the traffic and road conditions, other road users and road signs, are faced with more distractions as technology advances,” said a statement from the Road Safety Unit.

It noted that there are some after-market installers who will only install front video screens that shut off when the parking brake is released. But others, particularly those on the local market who are independently contracted technicians, will carry out any modifications and do not adhere to any guidelines.

The Road Safety Unit said that although there are no legal requirements regarding the installation of video screens in motor vehicles, it urged motorists, when installing electronic devices, to be guided by good judgement, care for other road users and the level of concentration needed to navigate the traffic environment.

It added: “Vehicles that are manufactured with DVD players and TV screens have them installed in such a way that they are either visible from back passenger seats only or will not work unless the vehicle is in the parked position; but owners can bypass the safety measures by having the devices installed themselves. This is what prosecutors contended that Peterson did and many drivers are doing the same, locally. In Jamaica private motor vehicles, as well as taxicabs have DVD players attached to the dashboard for the viewing pleasure of their passengers.”

The unit, however, hinted that it could be looking at legislation regarding the use of devices while driving, and cited the case of California, USA, which has already banned the installation of such devices in a position where the driver can view it, without the brakes on. “It would not be a bad idea to have the same laws here,” said the Road Safety Unit.

Distractions that caused accidents in California in 2001

Of the total number of traffic accidents in California in 2001 involving fatalities, personal injuries and property damage amounting to US$500 or more, the California Highway Patrol found that the source of distraction relative to the number of accidents were:

Cell Phones 891

Radio or CD player 786

Children 326

Eating 259

Reading 166

Smoking 115

Electrical equipment 81

Animals 76