Don't be a dummy ... leave your mobile alone

Eynsham firefighters from Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service have taken on the Mannequin Challenge, a viral video craze which started in America.

Thousands of videos have been posted on social media of people standing completely still - like mannequins in a shop window.  Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service’s short film highlights the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving by showing firefighters rescuing a ‘casualty’ from a mock road traffic collision.  The video finishes with the message: only dummies use their mobiles while driving.

On-call watch manager of Eynsham fire station, Frank Patterson said: "We noticed a lot of people have been doing the mannequin challenge in many different ways and we thought it would be a good way of getting a very important message across. We hope our video will encourage drivers to stop using their phones behind the wheel."

Councillor Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Fire and Rescue said: “This video is a fantastic way of communicating a really serious message with thousands of people. I just hope that those viewing it will heed the advice of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and avoid the distraction of their phone next time they’re driving.”

For more safety advice on how to avoid being distracted when driving, please visit Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service's website, www.365alive.co.uk