[Video] Why You Should Not Use a Mobile Phone While Driving

(Photo by Sussex Police, UK)

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jinsoo Lee] A video recently surfaced online showing a tanker lorry driver in the UK causing a major accident while texting on his mobile phone during driving.

Sussex Police stated that they released the video to raise awareness among drivers. The accident occurred on August 10 last year on the A27 road in East Sussex. Among the footage captured by internal cameras inside the tanker lorry’s cabin was a scene where driver Derek Holland took his hands off the steering wheel to peel a banana while driving.

The police added that Holland exhibited 42 instances of careless behavior, including continuously using his mobile phone during four hours of driving until the accident, not wearing a seatbelt, and taking both hands off the steering wheel whenever stopping at signals.

Holland even inserted a fake buckle into the seatbelt slot to prevent the alarm from sounding and only wore the seatbelt when he saw a police car. Once the police car disappeared from view, he immediately removed the seatbelt.

It is reported that the security company escort vehicle driver ahead, along with a correctional officer and an inmate riding together, sustained serious injuries in the accident. Holland was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison and is currently serving his sentence.