Why isn't the message getting through, driving whilst using a mobile phone is dangerous

[hitony]

Using handsfree has been shown to be equally dangerous and needs to banned as well, along with smoking.

You can ban as many things as you want I guess, the main issue is policing it, reality has to kick in.

 

[Notters]

Daily Echo clocks 32 drivers in two hours using mobile phones at the wheel

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/115...ed__Drivers_using_mobile_phones_at_the_wheel/

Did they have their eyes shut? I've seen that many in a minute on the A27.

 

[jfs]

What's your view on being a little bit pissed if you know the drive is undemanding (just a little bit)

The evidence for drink/drugs influence is much stronger. I support the current UK limit but oppose proposals to adopt the European limit.

To answer the question in another way. If hypothetically there was a journey on an open quiet straight road and you were only slightly pissed and aware of your state and of a risk averse disposition such that your danger to any other road user was negligible, then I wouldn't object.

 

[jgmcdee]

As a works van driver, I can suggest that one of the reasons you may see more van drivers doing this is the volume of road noise within a van. I have a hands free, but unless I am going fairly slowly, it is difficult to hear and be heard due to road noise.
I usually don't take the call if I am driving, but will call my voicemail soon after as the call may be related to what I am doing, could be a customer has cancelled or another change in the plans and the two hour drive ahead of me is a waste of time, and I will confess, that if I am on the motorway, I will be driving and not using the hands free.

If you're on a motorway you can't do anything until the next turn-off anyway, so why not wait until you reach that then pull in and check?

 

[studio150]

I dont understand people who ignore the evidence that using a mobile while driving is dangerous. There have been too many court cases where the death of another person has been caused by a sriving using their mobile whether talking texting or facebooking. Rather than a small penalty if caught while driving I would impose a similar mandatory ban as drink driving. That shouls see a huge rexuction in mobile use while driving immediately.

 

[hitony]

As a works van driver, I can suggest that one of the reasons you may see more van drivers doing this is the volume of road noise within a van. I have a hands free, but unless I am going fairly slowly, it is difficult to hear and be heard due to road noise.
I usually don't take the call if I am driving, but will call my voicemail soon after as the call may be related to what I am doing, could be a customer has cancelled or another change in the plans and the two hour drive ahead of me is a waste of time, and I will confess, that if I am on the motorway, I will be driving and not using the hands free.

One of my handsfree kits is an ear piece, its actually better than all the others for hearing the caller / other person, not a good argument, in my opinion, I to drive a van and in the recent past lorries......

 

[m20gull]

They do, and do

You probably don't see them though, what with being incognito & all that

I see them outside my house routinely. One officer standing in the shade of a tree by a roundabout. Car and hi-viz officers 200yds down the road. Catches them all day long.

 

[Creaky]

You can ban as many things as you want I guess, the main issue is policing it, reality has to kick in.

Policing a 'law' is only one part - the vast majority of people are law abiding and would comply with a ban.

France has banned the use of hands free phones which use an 'ear bud' or other form of headphone.

 

[Baldseagull]

If you're on a motorway you can't do anything until the next turn-off anyway, so why not wait until you reach that then pull in and check?

It is not usually possible to pull over safely anywhere near the motorway junction, I don't feel that a thumb swipe down tap on voicemail and pressing the phone to my ear is a difficult or dangerous thing to do if the road is reasonably clear, I do know that it is illegal.

 

[Hillian1]

Psting n hear nd drvig is quote diffoclut two I have ti sayz.

 

[Bombadier Botty]

Having blazed through a red light at Fiveways, cutting me off as I was cycling across on green, a brand new BMW estate proceeded down Stamford Avenue yesterday (a 20mph road) doing 30-40 and rising. What idiotic motorists like this don't realise is that they're not getting anywhere faster by driving like this because they just get stuck in traffic anyway. Approaching Preston Circus I passed the BMW, looked over and the woman in the driver's seat was happily driving along on her mobile phone to put the icing on the cake. 3 traffic violations in the space of a minute or so, just an unbelievable disregard for everyone else on the road and because Edna wasn't there due to swingeing cutbacks at RPU, she got away with all three.

 

[Boys 9d]

I often wonder how people managed to cope with life before there were mobile phones?

 

[hitony]

Policing a 'law' is only one part - the vast majority of people are law abiding and would comply with a ban.

France has banned the use of hands free phones which use an 'ear bud' or other form of headphone.

Every day when going to work I see many people breaking the hand held use of using a mobile phone while driving, I am not pointing my side of the debate towards builders or white van drivers, many people i see are in suits and are above the 50 year old age range, I would say from their look and car they have responsible jobs, but they are breaking the law on a regular basis.

 

[Baldseagull]

One of my handsfree kits is an ear piece, its actually better than all the others for hearing the caller / other person, not a good argument, in my opinion, I to drive a van and in the recent past lorries......

mine is an in ear, third one I have tried. I can hear better on the motorway if I take one hand off the wheel, and either jam it against my free ear or press the ear piece in, rather defeats the object. Other end will still struggle to hear me though due to road noise.
Not making an argument, just telling you what I do and why, the original post asked why do people still do this.
Out of interest, what is the model you use?

 

[hitony]

Psting n hear nd drvig is quote diffoclut two I have ti sayz.

I trust, while you are using your mobile, you are doing 80 in a 30 limit and its around schools and OAP homes??

(Edit: for the sake of clarity, i do realise Hillian1 is joking)

 

[METALMICKY]

Yes but if the police were to sit incognito in one place for 10 minutes they would catch literally dozens of mobile users, in fact they would be swamped. We need more cameras but not necessarily speed ones.

They much prefer this tactic in Eastbourne to detect those dumb enough not to wear their seatbelt. Accordingly, their priority is wrong as surely statistically the seatbelt injury will be inflicted on the individual but misuse of the nobile could involve numerous people and/ or vehicles. In defence of the copper on the street I daresay the policy is driven by a faceless accountant and statistician are only concerned with costs and achieving service level agreements.

 

[hitony]

mine is an in ear, third one I have tried. I can hear better on the motorway if I take one hand off the wheel, and either jam it against my free ear or press the ear piece in, rather defeats the object. Other end will still struggle to hear me though due to road noise.
Not making an argument, just telling you what I do and why, the original post asked why do people still do this.
Out of interest, what is the model you use?

Samsung WEP 570 (I do have an iphone but it works with all brands as long as it has bluetooth) I think my model has been upgraded, it is a very good one, worth looking up on ebay or the like.

Sorry my use of the word "Argument" was not meant as it sounded, I should have used the word debate, my apologies

 

[Baldseagull]

Samsung WEP 570 (I do have an iphone but it works with all brands as long as it has bluetooth) I think my model has been upgraded, it is a very good one, worth looking up on ebay or the like.

Sorry my use of the word "Argument" was not meant as it sounded, I should have used the word debate, my apologies

Thanks, will look into that. No offence was taken but thank you for the apology anyway.

 

[hitony]

I often wonder how people managed to cope with life before there were mobile phones?

Easy

 

[LamieRobertson]

I find white van men and women on the school run to be the worst offenders in terms of how often I spot them. Recently saw a woman coming towards me on the wrong side of the road with phone cradled in her neck and applying lipstick. She actually laughed when I hooted my horn to warn her she was about to hit me! Delivery drivers and workmen seemingly constantly checking their next call are the worst though

Strange isn't it i find car drivers to be the worst offenders (silver van holder myself)....and why are we just concentrating on mobile phones ...the number of times i have sat in the drive thru at the Macdonalds at shoreham and seen people in CARS driving out one handed munching on there big mac beggars belief