Easter Weekend Audio Takeover 2026

The RSA have teamed up with Media Central for a radio takeover this Easter weekend.

As we head into the Bank Holiday weekend, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is reminding drivers that distraction on the road doesn’t have to be dramatic to be dangerous. The campaign aims to remind everyone it doesn’t always take speed, drugs or alcohol for disaster to strike on the road – sometimes all it takes is a moment’s distraction.

A quick glance away. A small distraction. It doesn’t feel like a big deal - but it is. 

The biggest distraction. Your phone. 

Using your phone while driving makes you four times more likely to crash. 

Just one second. That’s all it takes. At 50 km/h, you’ll travel about 14 metres - roughly four car lengths - without properly looking at the road. 

Phones distract in many ways - you take your hands off the wheel, you take your eyes off the road, your attention shifts to the sound of a call. And your mind? It’s somewhere else entirely. 

Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous habits on the road. It’s often the little things: putting on makeup, fixing your hair, checking on the kids, chatting with passengers, or eating on the go

Listeners will hear promos and stings voiced by popular radio presenters across Media Central’s network and podcasts, delivering key safety messages to encourage drivers and all road users to put their phones on Do Not Disturb or Focus mode before getting behind the wheel – ensuring that no calls or notifications come through while driving and remember anything that takes your mind off the road is a distraction. Even just a split second can destroy everything.

Why does it matter?

Taking your eyes or mind off the road for even a second can have life-changing consequences.

You are four times more likely to be involved in a collision, if you use a mobile phone while driving’*

* World Health Organisation 2021  Road traffic injuries (who.int)

Mobile phones potentially distract a driver in several ways (Dragutinovic & Twisk, 2005, p. 24)

Using your phone on the road affects your driving in four ways.

• Physical – Instead of focusing on tasks like steering and changing gears, your hands are occupied with your phone.
• Visual – You have to take your eyes off the road and focus on the phone to use it. Even if you are talking on the phone hands-free, your eyes ‘look but do not see’ the road in front of them.
• Auditory – The sounds of the mobile phone draw your attention away from the road – particularly if the connection is poor.
• Cognitive – Instead of focusing your attention and thoughts on the road, you are diverting your attention towards the conversation.

What can we do?

• Start simple. Put your phone away before you set off. Turn on “driving mode” or “focus mode.” No notifications. No distractions. Just the road ahead.
• And don’t forget the other distractions! Finish getting ready before you leave, make sure children are in correct car seats, settled and comfortable, eat and drink beforehand, and keep pets safely restrained.
• It’s all about staying present.
• Because at the end of the day, no distraction matters more than a life. Not yours. Not anyone else’s. 
• This bank holiday weekend, slow down, be alert, take care, and look out for each other.