Mobile Phones and Driving.

[Thunder Bolt]

Just turn your phone off, it could save you so much heartache later. I've heard all the excuses such as I need my phone for work. It's pathetic. Just pull over and turn your phone on to check things now and again - is this too difficult?

I haven't used it, but our car has a phone built into the steering wheel. The phone book links via bluetooth, so you press the green phone with one finger, say 'home' and it automatically rings home.
I'm sure Hyundai aren't the only car manufacturers that have this.

Bus drivers are in radio contact with their depots, & taxi drivers take radio calls.

 

[theboybilly]

I haven't used it, but our car has a phone built into the steering wheel. The phone book links via bluetooth, so you press the green phone with one finger, say 'home' and it automatically rings home.
I'm sure Hyundai aren't the only car manufacturers that have this.

Bus drivers are in radio contact with their depots, & taxi drivers take radio calls.

I get that TB I really do but there's so much going on in modern cars now. The centre of the dash looks like an iPad on many cars - so much so it's seems like it's become acceptable to move the entertainment system from the headrests for rear passengers to the front of the car. All it takes is a split second and lives can be ruined forever. I think technology is great but it's going too far in this regard. I appreciate though that there's little chance of progress being reigned in on this score.

 

[GT49er]

Bus drivers are in radio contact with their depots, & taxi drivers take radio calls.

Bus drivers coming up to the end of their shifts regularly cash up, print out the reports and do whatever else they need to do at the end of a shift - while still driving the bus.

 

[catfish]

Driving eastbound on the M27 recently I saw, in my rear view mirror, white van man texting using both hands and using his elbows to steer. Needless to say the van was veering all over the place. What a complete tw*t!

People like that deserve to be banned from driving for life. With no right of appeal.

 

[Bwian]

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.

The big problem is that government relies on there being as many cars/vehicles/drivers on the road as possible to help prop up the economy so they feign concern without actually doing much. Perfect example is the MOT Test-DVLA's mandate is to pass as many vehicles as possible simply because more cars on the road means more taxes.

It wouldn't take much to make driving whilst texting/facebooking/etc. an instant ban but they won't.

 

[BensGrandad]

I wonder if instead of 3 points perhaps it should be an automatic 6 months ban but then I believe that anybody getting a ban should have to retake their test irrespective and not be able to take that test until their ban is finished so a 6 month or 12 month ban could be a month or more longer. This would apply to any ban for whatever reason

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

I wonder if instead of 3 points perhaps it should be an automatic 6 months ban but then I believe that anybody getting a ban should have to retake their test irrespective and not be able to take that test until their ban is finished so a 6 month or 12 month ban could be a month or more longer. This would apply to any ban for whatever reason

regards
DR

 

[Spicy]

They need to ban hands free too, which is just as dangerous.

Is it realistic though? Would prefer someone talking on a hands free doing 70+ down the M23 than them talking on a mobile, holding it with one hand and trying to steer, and overtake me, all at the same time.

Oh yes and don't get me started - women with children yakking on their mobiles while crossing a busy road thinking more about their phone call than the kids. I am a woman and never think anything is as important as keeping your kids safe.

 

[sir albion]

Instant driving bans should be given out although due to the lack of police these days it's no wonder people take risks.I wonder if anyone's been done for hogging yet as this seems to have got worse on the roads grrrr.

 

[Gabbafella]

I've seen people driving past the Police station while on mobiles, nobody cares because the punishments aren't harsh enough.
Instant bans need to be introduced.

 

[The Clamp]

Instant 3 year driving ban and a 3 year ban on owning a mobile phone.

 

[sir albion]

It's also easier for police to make money from speeding rather than trying to prove that people are using mobile phones as people keep the phones low down most of the time.

 

[BensGrandad]

It's also easier for police to make money from speeding rather than trying to prove that people are using mobile phones as people keep the phones low down most of the time.

Does technology extend to picking up when a phone is being used ie a police car driving past would get a signal that a phone in a car nearby is operating?

 

[SAC]

It's also easier for police to make money from speeding rather than trying to prove that people are using mobile phones as people keep the phones low down most of the time.

How much money does the police make from speeding?

 

[Bwian]

It's also easier for police to make money from speeding rather than trying to prove that people are using mobile phones as people keep the phones low down most of the time.

It isn't difficult to obtain usage records from the service provider.

 

[Bwian]

 

[BensGrandad]

It isn't difficult to obtain usage records from the service provider.

Is it worth it all that trouble but if a bleep or signal went off in police car as it drove past that would be different.

 

[GT49er]

Is it realistic though? Would prefer someone talking on a hands free doing 70+ down the M23 than them talking on a mobile, holding it with one hand and trying to steer, and overtake me, all at the same time.

No, banning hands free isn't realistic; it would also be stupid - it is much safer than the alternatives.

Of course, it is a distraction, and any distraction is undesirable, but unless we're going to start banning in-car stereos, radios, satnavs, chatty passengers and fractious kids - all as potentially hazardous as hands-free mobiles - there are always going to be some distractions - drivers just have to learn to cope with them.

 

[GT49er]

Very moving. But I can't help wondering how soon they'll be back in their cars, with their mobile phones up and running, safe in the knowledge that in their heart of hearts, deep down, they know "Yeh right, but it won't happen to me".

 

[Albion my Albion]

Compulsory In-car signal blocking device for every vehicle unless the ignition is off.

Not much use if you crash your car into a tree and need to urgently call an ambulance though, I guess.

If you can make a phone call you can turn the ignition off in order to call for the ambo.