Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRATISLAVA49
2010-02-02 14:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
INFORMATION ABOUT DISTRACTED DRIVING IN SLOVAKIA
how-toVZCZCXRO4226 RR RUEHSL DE RUEHSL #0049 0331426 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 021426Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0392 INFO RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0455
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000049
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/S N. CARTER-FOSTER
EUR/CE FOR J. MOORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SOCI LO
SUBJECT: INFORMATION ABOUT DISTRACTED DRIVING IN SLOVAKIA
REF: STATE 6703
LEGAL REGIME
(U) Slovak law bans all cell phone use--including texting--while
operating a motor vehicle, although an exception is made for
hands-free sets. Certain security and emergency services are
exempted from this ban.
DATA ON CELL PHONE USE AND DISTRACTED DRIVING
(U) Cell phones and text messaging are widespread in Slovakia.
There are approximately 5.6 million cell phone subscribers in a
country with 5.4 million residents, yielding a market
penetration rate of 104%. While there are no official
statistics kept by the government, recent media reports indicate
that Slovak carriers transmit about twice as many text messages
as phone calls.
(U) The Slovak government does not keep statistics on the number
of motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving.
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND RESEARCH
(U) Since passing the law in October 2008, the Slovak government
has not conducted any meaningful public awareness campaigns
about distracted driving. A campaign conducted a couple of
years ago by the government of the Czech Republic was
broadcasted on many television stations received in Slovakia and
widely viewed by the Slovak public.
(U) We have not been able to locate any research into the
effectiveness of the Slovak ban on using cell phones while
driving.
EDDINS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR OES/S N. CARTER-FOSTER
EUR/CE FOR J. MOORE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SOCI LO
SUBJECT: INFORMATION ABOUT DISTRACTED DRIVING IN SLOVAKIA
REF: STATE 6703
LEGAL REGIME
(U) Slovak law bans all cell phone use--including texting--while
operating a motor vehicle, although an exception is made for
hands-free sets. Certain security and emergency services are
exempted from this ban.
DATA ON CELL PHONE USE AND DISTRACTED DRIVING
(U) Cell phones and text messaging are widespread in Slovakia.
There are approximately 5.6 million cell phone subscribers in a
country with 5.4 million residents, yielding a market
penetration rate of 104%. While there are no official
statistics kept by the government, recent media reports indicate
that Slovak carriers transmit about twice as many text messages
as phone calls.
(U) The Slovak government does not keep statistics on the number
of motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving.
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND RESEARCH
(U) Since passing the law in October 2008, the Slovak government
has not conducted any meaningful public awareness campaigns
about distracted driving. A campaign conducted a couple of
years ago by the government of the Czech Republic was
broadcasted on many television stations received in Slovakia and
widely viewed by the Slovak public.
(U) We have not been able to locate any research into the
effectiveness of the Slovak ban on using cell phones while
driving.
EDDINS