Using phone driving to increase to 6 points & £200 fine

[worsy]

4rephill said:

worsy said:

Shoot me down, but I don't see the problem in stopped, waiting at lights in picking up your phone and reading a message/checking the time/ <some other small task>......

Where's the problem in waiting until you can find somewhere safe and out of the way of other traffic to pull over to check your phone for texts, messages, the time or blog/tweet about being held up at a green traffic light by some knob who had decided looking at their phone was far more important than paying attention to the traffic lights?

I understand your point, but it's the same as eating a sandwich, changing a radio station, reading a map, all equally dangerous but there is no specific offence. My point is that I could simply pick up the phone to check the time and it's an absolute offence.

[BlueFiestaST]

Had a lad about 25yrs old, driving along on the M62 yesterday dinner time with his eyes glued to his lap.
I stayed alongside him for 30-60 seconds as the motorway was empty and he didn't look up once in that time.
If I was a police officer (don't see them much) then i'd be bewildered.

He was doing 60mph in the first lane but that's no excuse is it?

[speedking31]

AH33 said:

There are cars now which will read out your facebook posts while you drive. What fking moron is this aimed at?

I hope they introduce this feature onto little screens on chainsaws, sewing machines, escalators etc., then we might see a reduction in the number of people clamouring for the distraction in cars. If it was a good idea then it would be available in tower cranes, ferries, agricultural equipment, etc.

[caelite]

BlueFiestaST said:

Had a lad about 25yrs old, driving along on the M62 yesterday dinner time with his eyes glued to his lap.
I stayed alongside him for 30-60 seconds as the motorway was empty and he didn't look up once in that time.
If I was a police officer (don't see them much) then i'd be bewildered.

He was doing 60mph in the first lane but that's no excuse is it?

So what your saying is that, whilst in a passing lane, you decided to slow down and match speed with the traffic in lane 1 for almost a minute for no good reason? If I was a police officer I knew who I would be pulling. Middle lane hogging sod.

[Countdown]

worsy said:

I understand your point, but it's the same as eating a sandwich, changing a radio station, reading a map, all equally dangerous but there is no specific offence. My point is that I could simply pick up the phone to check the time and it's an absolute offence.

If you're ever walking past a traffic light queue in a big city have a look and see how many people are on their phone (compared to all the other things you've pointed out). Then have a look at how quickly they pull away when the lights change. IMHO every 3rd or 4th car there will be a larger than normal gap because the driver is so engrossed on his phone that he hasn't realised the lights have changed. If you experience this occasionally it's frustrating. Experiencing it everyday, at every set of traffic lights and you start fantasising about dipping the culprits in a vat of boiling urine.

the reason there isn't a specific offence for the other issue you mention is because they aren't anywhere near as big a problem. The Guv'mint made using a mobile phone specifically illegal because it IS a problem.

[BlueFiestaST]

caelite said:

BlueFiestaST said:

Had a lad about 25yrs old, driving along on the M62 yesterday dinner time with his eyes glued to his lap.
I stayed alongside him for 30-60 seconds as the motorway was empty and he didn't look up once in that time.
If I was a police officer (don't see them much) then i'd be bewildered.

He was doing 60mph in the first lane but that's no excuse is it?

So what your saying is that, whilst in a passing lane, you decided to slow down and match speed with the traffic in lane 1 for almost a minute for no good reason? If I was a police officer I knew who I would be pulling. Middle lane hogging sod.

The motorway was dead so I was just cruising and doing 65. No one behind me otherwise I wouldn't have bothered seeing what he was upto
If there were people behind I wouldn't have done it.
Wow, did I really entertain your stupid post and waste 45 seconds of my life.

[Willy Nilly]

speedking31 said:

AH33 said:

There are cars now which will read out your facebook posts while you drive. What fking moron is this aimed at?

I hope they introduce this feature onto little screens on chainsaws, sewing machines, escalators etc., then we might see a reduction in the number of people clamouring for the distraction in cars. If it was a good idea then it would be available in tower cranes, ferries, agricultural equipment, etc.

Modern farm machine cabs are full of screens

Mid range Fendt: http://www.fendt.co.uk/8313.asp

Deere http://www.deere.co.uk/en_GB/products/equipment/tr...

Claas: http://www.claas.co.uk/products/combines/lexion780...

Those are just for the tractor and combine. The tractor cabs very often will also have the screen for the machine they are pulling too. Sprayer, baler, drill, fertiliser spreader, etc, all need screens and control boxes. Then the drivers phone will likely be ringing most of the day, he may have a work 2 way in there, an ipad type thing for records, job sheets. Claas have a telemetry option that beams info back to the factory and they beam info and advice back to the combine. Then the GPS signal fails and it all goes to st.

[Devil2575]

Willy Nilly said:

Modern farm machine cabs are full of screens

Mid range Fendt: http://www.fendt.co.uk/8313.asp

Deere http://www.deere.co.uk/en_GB/products/equipment/tr...

Claas: http://www.claas.co.uk/products/combines/lexion780...

Those are just for the tractor and combine. The tractor cabs very often will also have the screen for the machine they are pulling too. Sprayer, baler, drill, fertiliser spreader, etc, all need screens and control boxes. Then the drivers phone will likely be ringing most of the day, he may have a work 2 way in there, an ipad type thing for records, job sheets. Claas have a telemetry option that beams info back to the factory and they beam info and advice back to the combine. Then the GPS signal fails and it all goes to st.

All those things are there to help him do his job though and he is also in a field not on a busy main road when he is using them.

[caelite]

BlueFiestaST said:

Wow, did I really entertain your stupid post and waste 45 seconds of my life.

Love you too babe.