Using a mobile phone whilst driving - they got me!

[anonymous-user]

Here's a thing that puzzles me:

A few months back we took MIL, who's quite frail these days, on a coach tour to the far north. Our driver chatted incessantly, over a microphone. In 5 days he must have given us chapter and verse on Scottish history, interspersed with myriad 'funny' stories and jokes.

How is this permitted? The distraction must have been an order of magnitude greater than using a mobile.

[rambo19]

Because he was using the mike hands free?

[FidoGoRetroGo]

problemchild1976 said:

there are LOTS of things that cause distractions while driving

how many of us have been a passenger where the driver insists on looking your way while talking?

how many of us have tried to light a fag with the tiny car lighter or even worse an actual naked flame lighter or dropped the end between our legs?

how many of us try to programme the sat nav while driving or find that 80s DAB station we like?

how many of us have been staring at the hot blonde at the bus stop for a few seconds too long?

what i see as stupid is a law that singles out the usage of mobiles. holding a phone to your ear while driving is seen and punished as worse than reading the news paper when driving. I see it as people being the issue not the phone. I can scratch my ear for 10mins but thats ok. holding a phone in the same position is not

i'm totally against people not paying attention while driving BUT that shouldn't be just limited to phone use.

i'd say a v high proportion of us speed from time to time but it is seen as way more acceptable than holding a phone to the ear.

the truck driver video is scary but there are similar accidents where a phone wasn't involved. he could have been asleep or changing the radio or looking for some travel sweets in the glove box.

Sorry you got busted. i'm indifferent. wont slate you nor will i praise you. the modern world is a strange place

JJ

Spot on in all respects.

[Pip1968]

FidoGoRetroGo said:

problemchild1976 said:

there are LOTS of things that cause distractions while driving


what i see as stupid is a law that singles out the usage of mobiles. holding a phone to your ear while driving is seen and punished as worse than reading the news paper when driving. I see it as people being the issue not the phone. I can scratch my ear for 10mins but thats ok.holding a phone in the same position is not

i'm totally against people not paying attention while driving BUT that shouldn't be just limited to phone use.

i'd say a v high proportion of us speed from time to time but it is seen as way more acceptable than holding a phone to the ear.

the truck driver video is scary but there are similar accidents where a phone wasn't involved. he could have been asleep or changing the radio or looking for some travel sweets in the glove box.

Sorry you got busted. i'm indifferent. wont slate you nor will i praise you. the modern world is a strange place

JJ

Spot on in all respects.

Not really spot on in ALL repsects in my opinion as he is missing the big fact that not only is he holding his hand near his ear but he is also concentrating on something else. Often talking on a phone becomes the main task and driving the secondary task. I am sure that we have all seen it from the car in front that does not move on a green light to those with poor road positioning.

I like to think that when I speed that I always have both hands on the wheel (I generally do anyway) and am concentrating fully on the road - potential hazards and not talking to any passengers. Driving is a skill but unfortunately most people pay lip service to it hence all the regulations.

Pip

[voyds9]

I've found the latest version of Android Auto a boon whilst driving.

It starts automatically when it connects to bluetooth. Plays my favourite radio station, reads texts to me and will voice-to-text a reply.

Say 'OK google' and get the rest of the phones functions.

Occasionally struggles with my accent but change words and all is OK

[R8Steve]

hashtag said:

It's not the points or the fine that hurts.

The conviction code has a very significant effect on your insurance. I got caught many moons ago. My insurance increased circa £700.00 at the next renewal, and has never come back down to pre caught levels.

Strange, i had a CU80 and it didn't affect my insurance at all.

[SS2.]

R8Steve said:

hashtag said:

It's not the points or the fine that hurts.

The conviction code has a very significant effect on your insurance. I got caught many moons ago. My insurance increased circa £700.00 at the next renewal, and has never come back down to pre caught levels.

Strange, i had a CU80 and it didn't affect my insurance at all.

Not that strange, in fairness.

Some premiums may increase with certain licence endorsements, others with the same may remain unaffected (or even reduce) at renewal.

It can't be taken as read that one person's experience will be identical for everyone else.

Edited by SS2. on Sunday 15th January 12:01

[alock]

voyds9 said:

I've found the latest version of Android Auto a boon whilst driving.

It starts automatically when it connects to bluetooth. Plays my favourite radio station, reads texts to me and will voice-to-text a reply.

Say 'OK google' and get the rest of the phones functions.

Occasionally struggles with my accent but change words and all is OK

Read something like this: https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/...



The law is stupid.

[Boosted LS1]

SS2. said:

Willy Nilly said:

I wouldn't mind betting the cause a lot of minor bumps.

In 2015, drivers using a mobile phone was attributed as a contributory factor in less than 0.4% of reported minor accidents.

Do you have that link so that I can see it please? Are major accidents mentioned?

[SS2.]

Boosted LS1 said:

SS2. said:

Willy Nilly said:

I wouldn't mind betting the cause a lot of minor bumps.

In 2015, drivers using a mobile phone was attributed as a contributory factor in less than 0.4% of reported minor accidents.

Do you have that link so that I can see it please? Are major accidents mentioned?

Click here to get to the .gov.uk webpage, scroll down to 'Reported Road Casualties GB 2015 Tables' and download the zip file.

In the zip file, the table for Contributory Factors in Reported Accidents by Severity for 2015 is labelled RAS50001.

The table shows data for slight, serious and fatal accidents.

[jith]

voyds9 said:

I've found the latest version of Android Auto a boon whilst driving.

It starts automatically when it connects to bluetooth. Plays my favourite radio station, reads texts to me and will voice-to-text a reply.

Say 'OK google' and get the rest of the phones functions.

Occasionally struggles with my accent but change words and all is OK

No, no voyds, THIS is struggling with accents:-

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

J

[xjay1337]

alock said:

Read something like this: https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/...



The law is stupid.

That's weird results, not what I would expect.

[Boosted LS1]

SS2. said:

Boosted LS1 said:

SS2. said:

Willy Nilly said:

I wouldn't mind betting the cause a lot of minor bumps.

In 2015, drivers using a mobile phone was attributed as a contributory factor in less than 0.4% of reported minor accidents.

Do you have that link so that I can see it please? Are major accidents mentioned?

Click here to get to the .gov.uk webpage, scroll down to 'Reported Road Casualties GB 2015 Tables' and download the zip file.

In the zip file, the table for Contributory Factors in Reported Accidents by Severity for 2015 is labelled RAS50001.

The table shows data for slight, serious and fatal accidents.

Thanks for that. There's plenty to look at.

[tommunster10]

Well if you use your phone whist driving you are a dick and deserve all you get. Van drivers are by far the highest percentage i see doing it, even had a van driver coming towards me steering with elbows as he text with both hands.... I confess to turning round and going after him and we nearly had a full on fight but to be fair he clocked my lad in the car and his mate (rugby players) and we just ended up with in your face shouting.
Cretins.

[anonymous-user]

tommunster10 said:

Well if you use your phone whist driving you are a dick and deserve all you get. Van drivers are by far the highest percentage i see doing it, even had a van driver coming towards me steering with elbows as he text with both hands.... I confess to turning round and going after him and we nearly had a full on fight but to be fair he clocked my lad in the car and his mate (rugby players) and we just ended up with in your face shouting.
Cretins.

Sorry, who's the cretin here?

[xjay1337]

tommunster10 said:

Well if you use your phone whist driving you are a dick and deserve all you get. Van drivers are by far the highest percentage i see doing it, even had a van driver coming towards me steering with elbows as he text with both hands.... I confess to turning round and going after him and we nearly had a full on fight but to be fair he clocked my lad in the car and his mate (rugby players) and we just ended up with in your face shouting.
Cretins.

Congrats on being the first person on this post to be a dick.

Your attitude also stinks and you're lucky the van driver didn't lay you out.

Especially with your kid in the back, that's just asking for trouble.

Do you have a dash cam?

[tommunster10]

xjay1337 said:

tommunster10 said:

Well if you use your phone whist driving you are a dick and deserve all you get. Van drivers are by far the highest percentage i see doing it, even had a van driver coming towards me steering with elbows as he text with both hands.... I confess to turning round and going after him and we nearly had a full on fight but to be fair he clocked my lad in the car and his mate (rugby players) and we just ended up with in your face shouting.
Cretins.

Congrats on being the first person on this post to be a dick.

Your attitude also stinks and you're lucky the van driver didn't lay you out.

Especially with your kid in the back, that's just asking for trouble.

Do you have a dash cam?

Why? I was stationary he was on my veering onto my side of the road looking at his phone texting or playing a game, i had to honk my horn to alert him and he stopped, looked shocked and instead of saying sorry he gave me the nescafe sign....so I went after him to have a word....which i did and two adults had a row...
He was one of those self employed van drivers who work for Amazon etc I assume as he was Eastern Bloc, most likely not insured to be doing deliveries either...

Don't drive and text you plebs.

[Joe5y]

tommunster10 said:

xjay1337 said:

tommunster10 said:

Well if you use your phone whist driving you are a dick and deserve all you get. Van drivers are by far the highest percentage i see doing it, even had a van driver coming towards me steering with elbows as he text with both hands.... I confess to turning round and going after him and we nearly had a full on fight but to be fair he clocked my lad in the car and his mate (rugby players) and we just ended up with in your face shouting.
Cretins.

Congrats on being the first person on this post to be a dick.

Your attitude also stinks and you're lucky the van driver didn't lay you out.

Especially with your kid in the back, that's just asking for trouble.

Do you have a dash cam?

Why? I was stationary he was on my veering onto my side of the road looking at his phone texting or playing a game, i had to honk my horn to alert him and he stopped, looked shocked and instead of saying sorry he gave me the nescafe sign....so I went after him to have a word....which i did and two adults had a row...
He was one of those self employed van drivers who work for Amazon etc I assume as he was Eastern Bloc, most likely not insured to be doing deliveries either...

Don't drive and text you plebs.

What a truly delightful person you are.

[amancalledrob]

Red Devil said:

Gavia said:

Red Devil said:

Gavia said:

Boosted LS1 said:

Gavia said:

Boosted LS1 said:

^ Are you getting all emotional? I'd prefer to look at the statistics.

I'm with you. Except I disagree with drink driving laws. Let's join forces and try to get rid of both sets of laws

I disagree with drink driving laws to. Lots of people can manage a tipple and drive safely. The carnage doesn't exist imo. Certainly there will be deaths but far more are caused by piss poor driving.

I'm pretty well pissed after just one pint, but find taxis expensive. I just want the laws repealed so that I can save a few quid. If I hurt anyone then my insurance should sort it all out.

I still agree with you, except I'm being honest about my views.

I wonder if you would feel the same way if a pissed-up driver wiped out a member of your family. Or are they all already deceased? Otoh, the suggestion that your insurance is adequate compensation for someone else's family if you were to kill another road user or leave them with permanent life-changing injuries is risible.

Troll.

I was quite clearly being ironic. I'm amazed how many people seem to support people on here if they've been caught doing something. To me mobile phone use when driving is akin to drink driving and both should be enforced rigidly.

Clear to whom?

Perfectly clear to me.

HTH

[tommunster10]

Joe5y said:

tommunster10 said:

xjay1337 said:

tommunster10 said:

Well if you use your phone whist driving you are a dick and deserve all you get. Van drivers are by far the highest percentage i see doing it, even had a van driver coming towards me steering with elbows as he text with both hands.... I confess to turning round and going after him and we nearly had a full on fight but to be fair he clocked my lad in the car and his mate (rugby players) and we just ended up with in your face shouting.
Cretins.

Congrats on being the first person on this post to be a dick.

Your attitude also stinks and you're lucky the van driver didn't lay you out.

Especially with your kid in the back, that's just asking for trouble.

Do you have a dash cam?

Why? I was stationary he was on my veering onto my side of the road looking at his phone texting or playing a game, i had to honk my horn to alert him and he stopped, looked shocked and instead of saying sorry he gave me the nescafe sign....so I went after him to have a word....which i did and two adults had a row...
He was one of those self employed van drivers who work for Amazon etc I assume as he was Eastern Bloc, most likely not insured to be doing deliveries either...

Don't drive and text you plebs.

What a truly delightful person you are.

Says the prat who not only breaks the law but is too stupid to not get caught. I hope you get 6 points personally.