Devon Freewheelers volunteers have backed the 2021 My Red Thumb campaign to highlight the importance of never looking at a mobile phone while driving.
The Blood Bikes volunteers on May 12 joined forces with emergency services across the UK to show their support for the road safety campaign, which highlights the dangers of mobile phone usage behind the wheel.
Russell Roe, Devon Freewheelers Deputy CEO, said: “As motorcyclists are classed as vulnerable road users, as a Blood Bike charity we were keen to get behind this important My Red Thumb campaign to highlight the devastating effects texting or using a phone while driving can cause.
“Many motorists risk their lives, and the lives of others, by using their mobile phone while behind the wheel.
“As well as being illegal it is incredibly dangerous.
“Even looking down at a phone for a moment can lead to a tragedy.
“Nothing is so important that motorists need to use their phone while driving.”
The Devon Freewheelers has backed Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service – with partners from Devon and Somerset County Council, Devon Air Ambulance, Devon and Cornwall Police, and Avon and Somerset Police and Highways – to take part in the social media road safety campaign My Red Thumb Day.
The charity is urging drivers to break the habit of looking at mobile devices while behind the wheel, including the use of handsfree.
Chris Boston, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service road safety watch manager, said: “This is a fun social media campaign with a serious message – mobile phone use while driving is a major contributory factor to a high number of fatal road traffic collisions.
“Mobile devices are used by the vast majority of the population and breaking the habit of looking at the screen can be hard to break, so My Red Thumb day is about raising awareness that we all need to stop being distracted behind the wheel and about offering solutions to how to achieve that.”
For more information on the My Red Thumb campaign, see here.
- Photo shows, left to right, Nick Newby, Devon Freewheelers Operations Manager, Vikki Finney, Executive Assistant, and Russell Roe, Deputy CEO.
