IRTS News Sunday 2nd October 1994. This news bulletin was compiled and edited by Steve Wright, EI5DD, in conjunction with members of the Galway VHF Group. SAFETY ASPECTS OF USING MOBILE TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT. --------------------------------------------------- In a paper produced by Lena Nilsson a comprehensive study of reaction times of drivers using mobile telephones was undertaken using VTI simulator which is the closest thing to driving live on the road. Conclusions drawn from the study showed that drivers ability to react quickly in a car following situation was impaired when they were talking on a mobile phone. The prolongations of reaction time, 0.6 seconds for young drivers and 1.5 seconds for elderly drivers, imply stopping distances which are increased by, respectively, 8 and 21 meters when driving at 50 km/h. Neither young nor elderly drivers compensated for the delayed reaction time by increasing the headway. The distance to the car ahead was even shorter than for drivers who drove without using the mobile phone. Drivers estimated their workload to be higher when driving and conversing on the phone. Thus, they tended not to place the task to keep the workload level constant. It was found that the risk for an accident may increase when using a mobile telephone during a car-following situation. It is obvious that the bottom line of this study tends to highlight more the distraction aspect of using mobile phone equipment than promoting the use of hands-free mobile phone equipment to increase the safety factor. SOUTH EASTERN AMATEUR RADIO GROUP. ---------------------------------- The Committee of the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group met on the 7th of September, following the Summer break. One of the items on the agenda for discussion was the Waterford Rally which will be held in the Regional College on the Cork Road; the same venue as last year. More details of the Rally will follow as the date draws closer. For the time being the date of the Rally is the 30th of November. September also saw the return of the general meetings which take place on the last Wednesday of the month in Egans Lounge Bar, Barrowstrand Street. Members were treated to a video of the special event station for the QE2 which arrived in Dunmore East on the 2nd of September. A second video, covering Antenna Construction, was also shown. A special event station for Waterford Opera Festival has been active although the band conditions have not been the best. Contacts have been made on 40 and 80 Meters. SEARG took part in the 2 Meters Counties Contest despite the poor weather conditions and special thanks are given to those who braved the elements for the duration of the Contest. DONEGAL (TIR CONNAIL) AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY. -------------------------------------------- The Donegal (Tir Connail) Amateur Radio Society will be holding their annual Mobile Rally and Junk Sale in Jacksons Hotel, Ballybofey on Sunday the 13th of November with doors opening at 11am. Admission is 9C1 and there are ample parking facilities and refreshments available at the hotel. This is always a very popular event with a wide variety of equipment available. Definitely a sale not to be missed. FINGAL RADIO CLUB RALLY IN JURY'S HOTEL. ----------------------------------------- The Fingal Radio Club Radio and Electronics exhibition takes place this Sunday in Jury's Hotel, Ballsbridge with doors opening at 11.30am. A wide variety of equipment will be on sale with all the major traders present. There are ample car parking facilities and refreshments available for weary travellers. IRISH LANGUAGE ON AMATEUR RADIO. -------------------------------- A regular Irish Language net will be held on 80 Meters following the IRTS news and call-ins on 3.650. The net will commence on Sunday the 2nd of October and all are welcome to join the net. NEWS ITEMS REQUIRED URGENTLY. ------------------------------ Following the absolutely superb flow of items from around the country it would appear that things are easing off rapidly. Scouts Jamboree on the air is coming up shortly and there are many Scouts Groups who have never experienced the fun of this event. If your Club is running a station for this event, give it some publicity and encourage others to come on the air. As always, Club reports are more than welcome and much sought after at this time of the year. Special thanks to all Club Secretaries and PROs who have been supplying information to date. ITEMS FOR INCLUSION. -------------------- Items for inclusion in the Radio News Bulletins should be addressed to Steve Wright, EI5DD, C/O Department of Pathology, Regional Hospital, Galway. FAX messages may be sent to EI5DD at 091-24216. All items included in the Radio News Bulletins will be passed on to Dave Moore, EI4BZ, for inclusion in the monthly Newsletter. Items for inclusion in the Printed News should be sent to Dave Moore, EI4BZ at QTHR, phoned to 021-632444 during the day or to 021-883555 in the evenings. Items may be sent by packet radio to EI4BZ at EI7DKB-5. Fax messages may be sent to 021-632730.