Brake want to ban hands free phones
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24982173
because they are a "distraction".
Ok, then let's have a ban on children. And passengers. And sat-navs. And stereos... all of these are distracting!
because they are a "distraction".
Ok, then let's have a ban on children. And passengers. And sat-navs. And stereos... all of these are distracting!
king idiots, i wont say more as they're reactionary morons as well.Brake are not a car safety charity.
They are bunch of anti car loons who hate the car and want to see them banned
I worked a lot on the anti congestion campaign in Manchester (MART Manchester Against Road Tolls) a few years back.
We had to deal with their type a lot (Clean Air Now), they are a bunch of nutters, unfortunately they are intelligent well spoken nutters backed and financed normally with government cash as they where in Manchester
Lucky for Manchester, MART had a decent amount cash too
Brake are convinced they are right to the point where even if you showed them the facts proving them 101%, wrong they will deny it, even if it was their own research.
They are bunch of anti car loons who hate the car and want to see them banned
I worked a lot on the anti congestion campaign in Manchester (MART Manchester Against Road Tolls) a few years back.
We had to deal with their type a lot (Clean Air Now), they are a bunch of nutters, unfortunately they are intelligent well spoken nutters backed and financed normally with government cash as they where in Manchester
Lucky for Manchester, MART had a decent amount cash too
Brake are convinced they are right to the point where even if you showed them the facts proving them 101%, wrong they will deny it, even if it was their own research.
I'm not one to shoot down an idea just because of who made it or because it would inconvenience myself if it was enacted. To be honest, I can see some merit in the idea as telephone calls are distracting regardless of where your hands are but I don't think it's a real issue that needs to be made illegal or demonised (especially when you still have morons texting, facebooking and driving with their phone up to their ear)
Just saw the 'news' story on this on the BBC. The research is coming out of Manchester University (which is supposed to lend gravitas, but should be treated with a pinch of salt because there is always the question with university research these days as to who is funding it).
Anyhoo - the evidence is based on the use of not very realistic simulators (this in itself a distraction as the feedback from the system differs from reality, which the subject will have to compensate for), and the test subjects were aware of their heart rates being monitored (again, different from reality and a cause of anxiety itself) and having to wear goggles that monitored their eye movement (another distraction).
Very much a case of the experimental conditions being as much a cause of the results as the thing attempting to be studied.
You might think how else are they supposed to test the conditions. Fair question, but the answer does not mean projecting conclusions on to situations that are at best an approximation of reality.
Very unscientific and therefor quite mendacious.
Anyhoo - the evidence is based on the use of not very realistic simulators (this in itself a distraction as the feedback from the system differs from reality, which the subject will have to compensate for), and the test subjects were aware of their heart rates being monitored (again, different from reality and a cause of anxiety itself) and having to wear goggles that monitored their eye movement (another distraction).
Very much a case of the experimental conditions being as much a cause of the results as the thing attempting to be studied.
You might think how else are they supposed to test the conditions. Fair question, but the answer does not mean projecting conclusions on to situations that are at best an approximation of reality.
Very unscientific and therefor quite mendacious.
Krikkit said:
Brake are morons, but...
Me too they are very distracting if you get into a conversation where you have to think about what you're saying like a business call.Daniel1 said:
Just going to put this out there but.....
.... I find it's the talking, not the holding of the phone, that is the more distracting
I agree with this. I find a phone call incredibly distracting while driving. Maybe I'm crap at multitasking!.... I find it's the talking, not the holding of the phone, that is the more distracting
budfox said:
Road signs, they're dangerous too. Look at one of them and you aren't looking at the road ahead. Adverts on buses, there's another one. Fit young women too.
Actually driving is dangerous, lets ban that, and force people to use our wonderful transport system.
On the A90 we have those huge illuminated overhead signs, just past a layby, now tell me it is safe to be reading a sign as you pass a layby with potential vehicles pulling out..............Actually driving is dangerous, lets ban that, and force people to use our wonderful transport system.
Now that is dangerous in my opinion, why doesn't Brake tackle some real issues.
jmorgan said:
Good idea. But not brakes original I think? What does the law say with regards hands free or rather if you have a smash, what does the charge change from if you are proven to be on the phone as opposed to a genuine accident?
A phone call is a distraction.
Anything can be a distraction.A phone call is a distraction.
The problem is not things which can distract, but drivers who allow themselves to be distracted when they cannot afford it.
Cars have seats for passengers who talk. They have tertiary controls for climate, entertainment systems etc. Most modern cars have touchscreen infotainment centres which must be navigated in the same way that one navigates through a smartphone.
Banning specific distractions is something which I find frankly horrifying. I did and still do not agree with the banning of hand-held phones in cars.
What is required is the banning of drivers who are incapable of telling the difference between a situation where they can afford to divide their attention and when they cannot. I won't list examples because in typical PH fashion someone will dream up a slight variant whereby it would be the wrong thing to do. That sort of adjustment is what any driver with more mental capacity than a horse should be expected to carry out when driving.
I'd more happily see drivers with poor prioritisation abilities banned before telephones or any other tool of their ineptitude. Those sorts will always find something to take their mind off where it needs to be at the worst possible time. I get accused of elitism a lot though.
I agree that talking 'hands-free' on a mobile can be distracting. It certainly takes a driver's mind away from the primary task of driving.
I used to use 'hands-free' in the past, but I now only use to occasionally take a call (before excusing myself and calling back later) of to call somebody I'm sat in traffic and going to be late to meet them.
I'm still bemused by the number of people who use hand-held mobile phones whilst driving though, even in modern cars that presumably have a Bluetooth facility.
I'd prefer it if people didn't talk on phones whilst driving.
....Similarly, though, I've noticed talking to a passenger can be equally distracting.
The many people tapping away on smart phones rested on the steering wheel or on their lap, whilst they are driving, are taking things to another level of distraction though.
PS. I'd like to ban BRAKE!
I used to use 'hands-free' in the past, but I now only use to occasionally take a call (before excusing myself and calling back later) of to call somebody I'm sat in traffic and going to be late to meet them.
I'm still bemused by the number of people who use hand-held mobile phones whilst driving though, even in modern cars that presumably have a Bluetooth facility.
I'd prefer it if people didn't talk on phones whilst driving.
....Similarly, though, I've noticed talking to a passenger can be equally distracting.
The many people tapping away on smart phones rested on the steering wheel or on their lap, whilst they are driving, are taking things to another level of distraction though.
PS. I'd like to ban BRAKE!
jamieduff1981 said:
jmorgan said:
Good idea. But not brakes original I think? What does the law say with regards hands free or rather if you have a smash, what does the charge change from if you are proven to be on the phone as opposed to a genuine accident?
A phone call is a distraction.
Anything can be a distraction.A phone call is a distraction.
The problem is not things which can distract, but drivers who allow themselves to be distracted when they cannot afford it.
Cars have seats for passengers who talk. They have tertiary controls for climate, entertainment systems etc. Most modern cars have touchscreen infotainment centres which must be navigated in the same way that one navigates through a smartphone.
Banning specific distractions is something which I find frankly horrifying. I did and still do not agree with the banning of hand-held phones in cars.
What is required is the banning of drivers who are incapable of telling the difference between a situation where they can afford to divide their attention and when they cannot. I won't list examples because in typical PH fashion someone will dream up a slight variant whereby it would be the wrong thing to do. That sort of adjustment is what any driver with more mental capacity than a horse should be expected to carry out when driving.
I'd more happily see drivers with poor prioritisation abilities banned before telephones or any other tool of their ineptitude. Those sorts will always find something to take their mind off where it needs to be at the worst possible time. I get accused of elitism a lot though.
Your brain tackles the phone call different to other distractions and I would be right in saying that if distracted by something else and you are in a fatal crash that that will becomes a factor in the investigation by the police (goes up to dangerous driving)? Either way the call will use up more of your processing power for want of a better term, than chatting to a mate or prodding at your satnav, either of which can still get you in trouble. I think the rates of accidents where this would be a factor is not so high due to other drivers avoiding the one on the call. I certainly see it more often and avoid a few drivers a week and they do not even know I have probably saved their lives.
Another problem is the phone is seen as a god given right to use and abuse and the risk is not even thought of.
Problem with banning drivers on ability is the abilities of drivers vary so much and the drivers own perceptions of their abilities vary so much, where do you start? Better training and repeated training would be a start but make the choice for them in this instance as the motorist will not admit to this as a fault.
Now, if someone were to call A.N. Other who is driving, are you happy to continue the conversation once you know they are driving?
Buster73 said:
It's becoming another insurance led health and safety issue for company car users.
Certain companies I know of including one of the big banks have now banned any use of hands free whilst driving company cars.
My company has the same policy for people driving on works business. Certain companies I know of including one of the big banks have now banned any use of hands free whilst driving company cars.
I don't agree with everything that comes out of H&S, but I don't actually have a problem with that particular requirement.
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