Mobile Phones and Driving.

[LlcoolJ]

Makes perfect sense-especially these days with so many idiots out there (all ages and gender).

But it doesn't stop anyone from driving pissed. Just from actually drinking while driving.

I presume this is a bigger problem across the pond than here as I don't see many other people swigging from a can of super strength lager whilst driving.
[emoji1]

 

[Bwian]

That's a hilarious law.

Why? Better not tell you how it used to be (even into the early 70s) when you went to the LCBO (Licquor Control Board of Ontario) to buy booze. You had to select from a display, write your order on a form and then your bottle would be handed to you in a brown paper bag. It was a big deal when it all went self-serve....

 

[Bwian]

But it doesn't stop anyone from driving pissed. Just from actually drinking while driving.

I presume this is a bigger problem across the pond than here as I don't see many other people swigging from a can of super strength lager whilst driving.
[emoji1]

I never saw much of it except out in the boonies on a long weekend and on dirt roads with nobody about.

 

[StonehamPark]

Fines don't go to the police (and the emphasis these days is on education, i.e. sending people on diversion courses, rather than simply fining everyone who gets caught).

Road policing budgets have been cut hugely in recent years (as have all police budgets, in fact). Sussex has considerably fewer officers across the board than was the case even five years ago, due to austerity and Mrs May's reforms. Time will tell if this has an impact in terms of (a) motoring offences and (b) collisions, especially those involving serious injury or death.

It all seems ridiculous.

I've ridden motorbikes for the past few years in B&H and the number of people I see on phone's is insane.
Nearly been wiped out on a few occasions. Every time (but one), the other driver was on the phone, pulling out of a junction and not looking my way.

I guess we'll just have to wait for a few more deaths before it's firmly acted upon/Gov imposes stiffer penalties.

 

[Stat Brother]

This is ok though, isn't it?


TfL investigating as cyclist films bus driver placing bets on mobile

http://road.cc/content/news/203813-...-cyclist-films-bus-driver-placing-bets-mobile


NB - Please don't watch with the sound on.
After a while, and as is customary with my brethren, I ended up in sympathy with the driver and annoyed by the warrior.

 

[banjo]

I really don't get this obession with drivers having to use a mobile phone. I don't know how they can. I have trouble using mine sat in my armchair.

 

[Easy 10]

In Ontario I seem to remember there used to be a law that if you'd been to the Beer or Liquor Store, whatever you bought had to be out of the reach of the driver. I can't remember if the ticket was like a minor impaired driving charge but it meant that the temptation was removed. Maybe phones should be treated the same way-out of reach of the driver?

They have a fabulous law in Minnesota. If you're done for drink-driving, then once you're allowed back on the road you have to apply for "whiskey plates" - which means your car numberplate will start with the letter W, to indicate that you have been convincted of drink-driving. And your car must display the whiskey plates for a minimum of a year. Police officers are at liberty to pull over a whiskey plate driver to action routine checks on them.

So not only do you get done for the offence, you also suffer the humiliation of EVERYONE knowing about it. Imagine that.

 

[portlock seagull]

Shame on me and I reckon 100% of people on this thread too. I've done it in past but rarely do now as I've hands free. Never understood texting though, that is madness! How can you look at a tiny screen and drive? It's impossible isn't it? But I've answered calls and made 'em when probably shouldn't have. What today's 5live programme and this thread has taught me is that I ought not to be even taking hands-free calls. They're almost as bad even if allowed. As others have said, if you're answering any call whilst driving, emergency services a side, you probably have a bigger sense of self importance than you should have. It's addictive. It's crazy. Put the phone away. Set up a voicemail that says you'll call back at said times each day if not before. And stick to it. Far safer. No excuses. I'm changing my ways from today, hope others have a good talking to themselves also.

 

[narly101]

A normal conversation involves visual contact as well as verbal - we nod, look to see how our message is being received, all sorts of body language is involved. Just as distracting as talking on a hands-free mobile, especially if the passenger is in the back seat! I notice the Independent's oh so thorough article only compared mobile phone conversations with no conversation at all, and did not include face to face conversations in the survey for comparison.

I have to disagree. I hold conversations with members of my family in the car without the need to look at them, especially if I'm driving. It's not as distracting as holding a phone to your ear and having a conversation, or texting.

 

[LlcoolJ]

I have to disagree. I hold conversations with members of my family in the car without the need to look at them, especially if I'm driving. It's not as distracting as holding a phone to your ear and having a conversation, or texting.

But it's exactly the same as talking to someone on a hands free Bluetooth connection with your phone in your pocket.

 

[Exile]

But it's exactly the same as talking to someone on a hands free Bluetooth connection with your phone in your pocket.

Yes and no. Casual chat with a passenger is unlikely to be any distraction, whereas I almost never take a work call when driving (even on the hands free) because it could turn out to be a lengthy and / or technical call, in which case it absolutely would affect my concentration.

 

[Notters]

But it's exactly the same as talking to someone on a hands free Bluetooth connection with your phone in your pocket.

Does the signal cut out when talking to someone in the car?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

While I agree with the sentiment, would it work for people who are working while driving ? What about cabs etc.

Provided a proper licensing system is in place, cab drivers will avoid using a hand-held phone. In Brighton & Hove. It's worth noting the number of an offending vehicle and report it to the council, who will ask to inspect the CCTV evidence. Being in breach of the rules will lose a cab driver their livelihood.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

The subject has been covered before but the tabloids seem to covering the use of mobiles whilst driving big time today and quite frankly the figures are shocking. Punishments simply appear a joke,so any idea,s on how to stop this dangerous practice ? Instant ban say 28 days ? Refused car insurance ? Made to sit complete driving test ? Three points and £60 is laughable,but its no joke to those that are effected by this action.

driving past a prick on his phone in a Porsche on the M1 yesterday HE WAS IN THE SLOW LANE
regards
DR

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I have to disagree. I hold conversations with members of my family in the car without the need to look at them, especially if I'm driving. It's not as distracting as holding a phone to your ear and having a conversation, or texting.

Yes and no. Casual chat with a passenger is unlikely to be any distraction, whereas I almost never take a work call when driving (even on the hands free) because it could turn out to be a lengthy and / or technical call, in which case it absolutely would affect my concentration.

I disagree when there is just one adult and a couple of kids fighting in the back seat. Drivers have been known to take their eyes off the road completely to turn round and yell at the kids.
Of course, normal conversation with passengers isn't distracting unless it's a row with the other half.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

3 month ban should suffice for now. some people just basically taking the piss on par with DRINK/DRUG driving ,imho it just becomes a habit they're not prepared to give up
regards
DR

 

[vegster]

Interesting interview with an expert on 5Live tonight, he lays the blame squarely on our new Social Media obsession. He reckons its not so much talking as constantly checking updates ... "Ooops ! I've just hit the car in front"

 

[studio150]

If you are in a long traffic jam and have been stationary for some time then I don't have a problem if people use their phones sensibly, i.e. a quick text or call to inform a friend / family of your delay.

Similarly, I don't have a problem if the lights have just turned red and someone quickly checks their messages.

Indeed, commons sense tells me it would be perverse if a driver was punished more severely for checking their phone while their car is on the road but stationary than, say, a driver who is moving and eating a sandwich or drinking out of a can.

However, using your phone while the car is moving clearly crosses the line.

So you're happy for people to break the law despite the law being very clear on the use ofmobiles in a vehicle.

 

[drew]

What about other offences?
I have a dash cam installed, what about if a car overtook me and in doing so clearly crossed a double-white line on the centre of the road. Or maybe some other careless or reckless driving.
Is there a Crimestoppers email I could send my footage into for the police to follow up and prosecute, or are they just too busy?

http://www.operationcrackdown.org/

 

[GT49er]

I have to disagree. I hold conversations with members of my family in the car without the need to look at them, especially if I'm driving. It's not as distracting as holding a phone to your ear and having a conversation, or texting.

Of course you are aware of their reactions. You are not staring at them all the time, but there is still social interaction going on. It happens naturally without you even realising it.

And by the way, this part of the discussion is about hands-free mobile use only. We ALL agree that holding the phone up to your ear, or worse still, texting (Geez, how stupid can some mobile users get!) is the action of complete and utter w*nkers.