Using a mobile phone whilst driving - they got me!

Using a mobile phone whilst driving - they got me!

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Discussion

Joe5y

Original Poster:

1,501 posts

184 months

Wednesday 1st February 2017
quotequote all
So. Course was offered and I'm doing it tomorrow. To answer some of my own questions from the OP and as many have clarified:

Course = £85.00.
Duration = 2.5hours.
Location = many, mines Basingstoke.


xjay1337

15,966 posts

119 months

Wednesday 1st February 2017
quotequote all
Pop into Newbury for lunch after if you're bored laugh

Good luck mate, maybe you may even pick up a few good tips from the awareness courses!

bad company

18,642 posts

267 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
Joe5y said:
So. Course was offered and I'm doing it tomorrow. To answer some of my own questions from the OP and as many have clarified:

Course = £85.00.
Duration = 2.5hours.
Location = many, mines Basingstoke.
Good result, nice one.

Joe5y

Original Poster:

1,501 posts

184 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
Just got back from completing the 2.5 hour course and it was very much what we'd all expect. Not saying that I didn't learn anything but I knew using my phone was wrong beforehand.

A few shock and awe moments of post mobile phone use crashes and the cause and effects.

A few Highway Code stopping distances used with additional info of whilst distracted compared to drink driving, hands free and without any of the above.

Quite a light hearted course with all considered. So much so in fact that a kid (20ish) sat using his phone most of the time and was called up on it 4times. Surprised he wasn't thrown out. A few people in denial too.

As of the 1st of March the courses will not be offered, the fine will be £200 and the points will be 6. Think we all knew that anyway?

Boosted LS1

21,188 posts

261 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
tommunster10 said:
quoteunquote_sir_ said:
tommunster10 said:
I've not been stopped in 15 years and I've been driving 23 years now.....clean license.
In fairness since Winsor and the massive cuts in officer numbers over the last few years, you've got to be fairly unlucky and/or fairly obviously breaking the law to get pulled up by actual PCs these days. You might encounter some civvy cowering in a van with a speed gun at the most.
That was my point. Well done. So to get caught on your mobile makes you a bit thick does it not?
Not at all. It just means you were unfortunate. I would never text at the wheel or dial out but depending on circumstances I have no issue with receiving a call. None at all. You are Mrs Miggins and I claim my £5. When you get caught carrying out a minor infringement I hope they through the book at you.

Problem with all the laws in this country is that it turns people against each other as they all strive to achieve the moral high ground.

Boosted LS1

21,188 posts

261 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
It's interesting isn't it.

First there was the DD outrage.
Then the speeding outrage
Now it's mobile phones.
Next month it'll be dirty number plates because they need to enforce has many laws as possible.

I'm waiting for the safer beds campaign to happen.

If safety really was the issue the government could have awareness adverts on tv, promote good driving, improve roads and a whole host of other things. Obviously, introducing punitive legislation is the easiest option and it makes money.

problemchild1976

1,376 posts

150 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
agreed!!

showing post mobile phone crashes is only a technique like the DD crashes

i find this ridiculous....

headline: Mobile phones are biggest cause of road fatalities

sub headline: The biggest in-car cause of fatalities is motorists texting, tweeting and taking calls.

content: The Department for Transport said that of 88 deaths caused by distractions in 2012, 17 were due to mobile use – a higher death rate than other in-car causes.

this is a proper "daily mail" type of story

starts of intimating that mobile phones cause most deaths on uk roads

then reduces to "of in-car distractions"

then finally actually revealing that 19% of in-car distraction deaths are caused by phones

....but saying that its the biggest cause even when they show some other evidence saying.....
of people who crashed
18% said adult passengers were most at fault
14% blamed children
13% took their eye off the road to twiddle with their sat-nav
12% per cent their mobile phone......

so lets bad talking in cars!!

gotta love stats

given that there are normally around 1500 deaths on out roads, the 17 due to mobile phone use is hardly "biggest cause of road fatalities"

taken from here...http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/490393/Mobile-phone-use-the-biggest-cause-of-road-fatalities

JJ

Countdown

39,972 posts

197 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
Boosted LS1 said:
It's interesting isn't it.

First there was the DD outrage.
Then the speeding outrage
Now it's mobile phones.
Next month it'll be dirty number plates because they need to enforce has many laws as possible.

I'm waiting for the safer beds campaign to happen.

If safety really was the issue the government could have awareness adverts on tv, promote good driving, improve roads and a whole host of other things. Obviously, introducing punitive legislation is the easiest option and it makes money.
I can't see "promoting good driving" working. The problem is that the people who most need it can't even follow basic rules because they think it doesn't apply to them.

Drink driving, mobile phone usage, driving with bald tyres or no brakes will NOT automatically result in you having an accident, or killing anybody. What they do is increase the risk of you doing so. Is it really that hard to comply with such a basic safety rule?


anonymous-user

55 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
problemchild1976 said:
agreed!!

showing post mobile phone crashes is only a technique like the DD crashes

i find this ridiculous....

headline: Mobile phones are biggest cause of road fatalities

sub headline: The biggest in-car cause of fatalities is motorists texting, tweeting and taking calls.

content: The Department for Transport said that of 88 deaths caused by distractions in 2012, 17 were due to mobile use – a higher death rate than other in-car causes.

this is a proper "daily mail" type of story

starts of intimating that mobile phones cause most deaths on uk roads

then reduces to "of in-car distractions"

then finally actually revealing that 19% of in-car distraction deaths are caused by phones

....but saying that its the biggest cause even when they show some other evidence saying.....
of people who crashed
18% said adult passengers were most at fault
14% blamed children
13% took their eye off the road to twiddle with their sat-nav
12% per cent their mobile phone......

so lets bad talking in cars!!

gotta love stats

given that there are normally around 1500 deaths on out roads, the 17 due to mobile phone use is hardly "biggest cause of road fatalities"

taken from here...http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/490393/Mobile-phone-use-the-biggest-cause-of-road-fatalities

JJ

The thing is, restricting the use of a phone whilst driving is hardly a serious imposition is it? Only an idiot would make a fuss about the situation, especially given some of the pretty horrific outcomes we've all witnessed.

Use of a phone whilst driving is more a social need of the Facebook generation inadequates than anything else.

Boosted LS1

21,188 posts

261 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
Countdown said:
Boosted LS1 said:
It's interesting isn't it.

First there was the DD outrage.
Then the speeding outrage
Now it's mobile phones.
Next month it'll be dirty number plates because they need to enforce has many laws as possible.

I'm waiting for the safer beds campaign to happen.

If safety really was the issue the government could have awareness adverts on tv, promote good driving, improve roads and a whole host of other things. Obviously, introducing punitive legislation is the easiest option and it makes money.
I can't see "promoting good driving" working. The problem is that the people who most need it can't even follow basic rules because they think it doesn't apply to them.

Drink driving, mobile phone usage, driving with bald tyres or no brakes will NOT automatically result in you having an accident, or killing anybody. What they do is increase the risk of you doing so. Is it really that hard to comply with such a basic safety rule?
You may as well ban radios and seat adjusters as well and certainly ban driving when it's raining. Taking a call on an empty DC has no impact on safety imo.

What could work would be some way of reducing insurance based on passing safety courses or improved driver awareness courses. This country seems to be all about the big stick without any carrots.

problemchild1976

1,376 posts

150 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
quotequote all
REALIST123 said:

The thing is, restricting the use of a phone whilst driving is hardly a serious imposition is it? Only an idiot would make a fuss about the situation, especially given some of the pretty horrific outcomes we've all witnessed.

Use of a phone whilst driving is more a social need of the Facebook generation inadequates than anything else.
agreed....

my point being that it shouldnt need specifically raising wink

JJ

agtlaw

6,712 posts

207 months

Monday 6th February 2017
quotequote all
Ki3r said:
Not sure where you've heard that about Dorset stopping giving courses for mobiles, but you are wrong. Still give them (long as you haven't done one in the last three years).

At the moment it's still £100 fine and three points. Think it's March/April that it's going up from what I've read.
1st March 2017. See S.I. 2017 No. 66. The Fixed Penalty (Amendment) Order 2017.

"This Order amends the Fixed Penalty Order 2000 (S.I. 2000/2792, “the 2000 Order”), which prescribes fixed penalty amounts for fixed penalty offences. The 2000 Order is amended by adding a new fixed penalty amount for the offence, under section 41D(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, of contravening or failing to comply with a construction and use requirement as to the use of hand-held mobile telephones, or other hand-held interactive communication devices, while driving. Previously, an offence under this provision fell under entry 4 “Any other fixed penalty offence involving obligatory endorsement” in the table in Schedule 1 to the 2000 Order, and therefore carried a fixed penalty amount of £100. This Order inserts into the table a specific entry for the offence under section 41D(b) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, with an associated fixed penalty amount of £200."