Using a phone blatantly!

[Nigel Worc's]

croyde said:

Back in the 80s, when there were plenty of police on the roads, us van couriers used to get stopped all the time for using our radio mics whilst driving. In sympathy to the post above, using a radio is hardly like nattering away on the phone, as it is usually short terse replies or questions ie 'Oxford St POB' or 'empty Heathrow Terminal 2'.

This is far different to the gormless these days with no spacial awareness yet happy to hold a 30min conversation about bks and nothing, whilst driving down a busy street.

Did you get stopped as the standard of your driving had dropped ?

Using a hand held microphone still isn't illegal today, let alone back then, it really is just mobile phones, and then only if you actually hold it, as long as the standard of your driving doesn't drop, just the same as smoking, adjusting the radio etc.

[croyde]

Back in those days we were always getting stopped and told off, whether I was in a van or on a motorcycle. Never got done though

I used to wear a US approved race helmet that didn't have the UK safety marks and I always got a telling off for that to. Coppers had more time back then it would seem

[Nigel Worc's]

croyde said:

Back in those days we were always getting stopped and told off, whether I was in a van or on a motorcycle. Never got done though

I used to wear a US approved race helmet that didn't have the UK safety marks and I always got a telling off for that to. Coppers had more time back then it would seem

Stopped and told off for what ?

It won't have been using a hand held microphone, as that has never been illegal.

I agree though that they were less anal then.

[Mk3Spitfire]

alock said:

Police two way radios as well whilst you're at it.

Love this one. And what would your solution be?

[Nigel Worc's]

Mk3Spitfire said:

alock said:

Police two way radios as well whilst you're at it.

Love this one. And what would your solution be?

Nobody has a solution for it, and really it's just a silly comment.

People, me included, do get frustrated at the over zealous approach towards mobile phone use, and how Police Constables are happy to nick people for behaviour they do themselves (with an exemption).

[croyde]

We were told off for just using the mic. We were young and had no idea if they were correct or not and as to the helmet (An 80s version of what the Stig wears) it amazed me back then that motor and street cops realised that it didn't conform to the law.

I had to learn to trot out the line that it was illegal to SELL for road use but not strictly illegal to wear. The shops all had stickers saying not to be used on the road, which covered their arses

[Mk3Spitfire]

Nigel Worc's said:

Nobody has a solution for it, and really it's just a silly comment.

People, me included, do get frustrated at the over zealous approach towards mobile phone use, and how Police Constables are happy to nick people for behaviour they do themselves (with an exemption).

Using a mobile phone is one thing. A two way radio, very different.
I have never seen officers using their mobile whilst driving and claiming the exemption, because there's not really a need. The radio is for anythjng urgent, and if it's not that urgent, you can pull over. I'm not even sure the exemption of using a mobile by BIB is valid.

[Nigel Worc's]

Mk3Spitfire said:

Nigel Worc's said:

Nobody has a solution for it, and really it's just a silly comment.

People, me included, do get frustrated at the over zealous approach towards mobile phone use, and how Police Constables are happy to nick people for behaviour they do themselves (with an exemption).

Using a mobile phone is one thing. A two way radio, very different.
I have never seen officers using their mobile whilst driving and claiming the exemption, because there's not really a need. The radio is for anythjng urgent, and if it's not that urgent, you can pull over. I'm not even sure the exemption of using a mobile by BIB is valid.

Nobody is prevented from using a two way radio, a lot of people don't realise this.

I've seen Constables using hand held phones whilst driving myself, but then again I see many members of the public doing the same.

[Mk3Spitfire]

Nigel Worc's said:

Nobody is prevented from using a two way radio, a lot of people don't realise this.

I've seen Constables using hand held phones whilst driving myself, but then again I see many members of the public doing the same.

Exactly, which is why HGV drivers all seem to have CB's.

I wouldn't be happy using my Mobile in a job car. It is, like you say, hypocritical, and there's no need anyway. Strange that others (bib) feel the need to do so.

[Snowboy]

alock said:

Breadvan72 said:

There are plenty of studies that show that using a phone while driving significantly impairs situational awareness and driver performance...

All the studies I've seen show that it is the conversation that causes the problem, not physically holding the phone. The real danger is those using hands free kits thinking they arent a danger. The sooner they are banned the better. Police two way radios as well whilst you're at it.

Driving requires physical and mental concentration.
You can normally get my when one is distracted; a conversation with a passenger, grabbing a sweet etc.

But when you hold a phone and talk it distracts you mentally and physically.
In fact, it can actually make the phone call the primary activity, so driving becomes the secondary one.

I've used a phone while driving before it was illegal, I've used a hands free, I've used two way radios.

By far, the most distracting thing is holding the phone to the ear while chatting.

[anonymous-user]

ash73 said:

Breadvan72 said:

Oddly, a conversation with someone in the car is less distracting than a conversation on a phone.

Nothing odd about it, a person sitting with you in the car can also see what's going on and decide when to keep quiet.

That is true, but there is something additionally absorbing about a phone call, possibly because you do not see the person you are speaking to and cannot incorporate visual cues into the processing of the conversation. As Snowboy says there is a danger that the phone conversation becomes the primary activity and driving the secondary one.

[Nigel Worc's]

Breadvan72 said:

ash73 said:

Breadvan72 said:

Oddly, a conversation with someone in the car is less distracting than a conversation on a phone.

Nothing odd about it, a person sitting with you in the car can also see what's going on and decide when to keep quiet.

That is true, but there is something additionally absorbing about a phone call, possibly because you do not see the person you are speaking to and cannot incorporate visual cues into the processing of the conversation. As Snowboy says there is a danger that the phone conversation becomes the primary activity and driving the secondary one.

I find it all depends on where you are, and what is happening around you, and I adjust my behaviour to suit.

It is exactly the same with something as simple as lighting a ciggy, on more than one occasion I've put one in my mouth, then not felt able to light it for a few minutes.

I think it's called common sense.

[Corpulent Tosser]

A question for those who don't think it is dangerous to use a mobile phone while driving.

If you were on a bus and the driver was carrying on a conversation on a hand held mobile while driving, would you be comfortable with that?

I am taken to and from work by bus and the drivers used to use phones while driving, I have told each one to pull over to the side of the road when they have taken a call, now they either ignore the phone or stop to answer.

I don't use a phone while driving and I don't want to be in a car or bus driven by someone whose attention is divided.

[powerstroke]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Possibly taking work away from lawyers ie it doesn't need a expensive
Court case to prove who was telling the truth instead some mong at the insurance
Co just looks at the footage ..

[anonymous-user]

Given that I have never done a car crash case in my life, you are slightly off target. For the real answer, see above.

[Nigel Worc's]

Breadvan72 said:

Given that I have never done a car crash case in my life, you are slightly off target. For the real answer, see above.

Having been accused of being involved in an RTA that I wasn't, I like the safety of them.

[Jim1556]

Breadvan72 said:

But... so too will anyone who has a dash cam.

A few years ago I bought my car for cash with some redundancy money, as it was the first time I'd bought a new car, I didn't want some idiot (using a phone/putting their makeup on/arguing with their kids) ttting my sparkly pride and joy and saying it was my fault.

It got fitted and happily records when I'm driving. It can also reduce insurance premiums.

I've not needed it yet, but this particular incident came close...:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvDfl95ProU

I don't see an issue with them, you see things in the news about crashing for cash or disputed claims etc.

[Tunku]

The only decent dash cammers in the world are Russian. Much more interesting antics. I'm slowly learning to swear in Russian, I think...

[croyde]

Jim1556 said:

A few years ago I bought my car for cash with some redundancy money, as it was the first time I'd bought a new car, I didn't want some idiot (using a phone/putting their makeup on/arguing with their kids) ttting my sparkly pride and joy and saying it was my fault.

It got fitted and happily records when I'm driving. It can also reduce insurance premiums.

I've not needed it yet, but this particular incident came close...:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvDfl95ProU

I don't see an issue with them, you see things in the news about crashing for cash or disputed claims etc.

I see you edited out the bit where you beat him to a pulp with your tyre wrench

[505diff]

I've had a supplier give me a dash cam free of charge, a few weeks back, so far this week I've recorded, a guy with phone in one hand and trying to write something down with the other and take a bend on a slip road at the same time at 40mph with a queue of traffic ahead of him, car going around a roundabout with a toddler standing up on the back seat, some tt pulling out of a junction so I either break hard or tee bone them, and about ten people not stopping for red lights, I'm sure if I spent every evening downloading this and e-mailing it to the police I would not be getting a pat on the back for my efforts, it set up for me benefit should it go tits up and that's all