Mobile phone use crackdown

[NGee]

austinsmirk said:

I'm amazed how many people in very high end cars are using a handheld phone though. Surely they'd all be configured into the car's audio by now.

I don't think modern cars, however high end, can have the audio configured to operate TwitFace!

[alock]

I'm sure sending a text message through the built-in touch screen in my dashboard is more distracting than holding a phone in my hand. However the law is obviously happy for me to send text messages this way while driving because it isn't illegal.

Have I got this right?

[HantsRat]

At the end of the day Police radios and othe two way radios are legal.

Also using a Police radio is a lot less distracting than a phone. It's strapped to your chest, you simply press a button and talk. You don't need to look at the display or fiddle around unlocking it pressing loads of buttons. You don't even need to look down to answer it as constantly connected.

I would say though that officers shouldn't use their radios in their hands while driving unless it's required in an emergency.

Yes you could argue someone could lean over and answer their phone on speaker phone without looking at the display but if being used in the hand then it is currently illegal.

Most cars have Bluetooth and if not you can get visor mounted Bluetooth devices for about £20. If £20 is too much, get a windscreen phone mount from Poundland and put the phone in that. Nothing illegal about swiping to answer a call on speaker phone if the phone is mounted.

[HantsRat]

alock said:

I'm sure sending a text message through the built-in touch screen in my dashboard is more distracting than holding a phone in my hand. However the law is obviously happy for me to send text messages this way while driving because it isn't illegal.

Have I got this right?

Yes correct.

[herewego]

yonex said:

HantsRat said:

Police get pulled up all the time for a manner of things and are dealt with. Sometimes even more servery than the public would such as losing job/loss of pension etc. Google 'Hampshire Police Officer Dangerous Driving' - Although this was rightly dropped but still shows how officers are called up on driving issues.

How many times do you see Police on the phone? I probably see about 2 or 3 photos/videos/incidents a year across the entire country. Hardly represents the Police as a whole. (Unless you are a Daily Mail reporter).

Is that acceptable then, just a few? Apparently one must sympathise with those in authority losing their careers and pensions if they are in a position of authority. For me it goes with the territory quite frankly. As for generalisations let's not bring that and/or profiling into this discussion. It is something the Police are involved with each and every day!

The fact is it is allowed for a driver to use a handset if he or she is behind the wheel of a Police car, but the general public are prosecuted. The law is an ass.

It's a lot more important that the Police stay in communication than that you or I do.

[anonymous-user]

herewego said:

It's a lot more important that the Police stay in communication than that you or I do.

If you say so. I am sure that nobody else has a responsible job, which in some cases requires urgent communication, and every Police officer who makes a call involves convicted felons on a rampage through the streets.

Back in the real world standard Police drivers are surely no more, and in some cases less competent than members of the public. Why the exemption to use communication via a handset, it could cause injury and death if concentration is broken, as we are being reminded?

[super7]

I'm surprised it's even legal to use a Handsfree device to be honest. Looking for that phone button on the steering wheel is a right pain in the arse when you steering round a roundabout.....

This is all about concentration and having your eyes on the road....

I'm surprised it's not illegal to lift yourself up in the seat and let rip....

[spookly]

swisstoni said:

spookly said:

swisstoni said:

spookly said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38711931

Seems they caught quite a few - 8000. At a rate of about 40 an hour.
And also nicked some for other distractions such as eating while driving.

I drove past a marked police car yesterday morning and the single copper in the car was busy with a large Costa coffee. I've also seen them on the phone wile driving. Is it ok for them and not us?

FWIW... I don't ever use my phone in my hand while driving as I have the car linked to both my work and personal phone. I do sometimes eat/drink while driving. If it is ok for our local plod then I guess it is ok for me :-)

Grow up.

And become a grumpy old like you? Nah, you're alright mate.

Great response. Exactly what was I doing that was so childish?

Well, bleat that 'the police do it why can't I?' for starters.

Way to go Einstein. Completely miss the point.

I wasn't saying that. Although I did say some might think it fine to copy their behaviour. I was pointing out the hypocrisy of there being one rule for us and one rule for them.
I think it is ridiculous that you'd see a policeman doing something that you know others have been penalised or charged for doing.

I have seen coppers on the phone while driving, and I have seen them eating and drinking. Did they have special eating/drinking while driving training?

[grumpynuts]

The only thing you can do hands free is talk. Everything else needs the handset. My car has full phone interface, and I can see the internet and write and receive texts on the car's screen. But, as soon as the car is moving it all shuts off, which is absolutely correct. Its is emails and social media that folk can't seem to be away from for even a few minutes, they are truly sad feckers. My phone lives in my briefcase when I'm driving, which is always in the boot of the car, and when not at work, in the glove box. I can then concentrate on what I'm supposed to be doing, DRIVING. It's not difficult.

[Vipers]

super7 said:

I'm surprised it's even legal to use a Handsfree device to be honest. Looking for that phone button on the steering wheel is a right pain in the arse when you steering round a roundabout.....

The world will not stop, the sun will not fall out of the sky, you will not be vaporised by aliens if you don't answer that call in two milliseconds.

Wait until you have completed the manouevour THEN answer the phone.

[super7]

Vipers said:

super7 said:

I'm surprised it's even legal to use a Handsfree device to be honest. Looking for that phone button on the steering wheel is a right pain in the arse when you steering round a roundabout.....

The world will not stop, the sun will not fall out of the sky, you will not be vaporised by aliens if you don't answer that call in two milliseconds.

Wait until you have completed the manouevour THEN answer the phone.

Really???????

I'll definitely take your guidance and wait next time till i've performed the manouvere next time.... that makes sense!!!!!

[nonsequitur]

spookly said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38711931

Seems they caught quite a few - 8000. At a rate of about 40 an hour.
And also nicked some for other distractions such as eating while driving.

I drove past a marked police car yesterday morning and the single copper in the car was busy with a large Costa coffee. I've also seen them on the phone wile driving. Is it ok for them and not us?

FWIW... I don't ever use my phone in my hand while driving as I have the car linked to both my work and personal phone. I do sometimes eat/drink while driving. If it is ok for our local plod then I guess it is ok for me :-)

Ah, the police. Guardians of our security and safety. Bastions of law and order. Catching the bad guys. consumers of light baked goods.

Yes, I know they make mistakes sometimes, but when they are 'on the job', I say they can do absolutely anything they like, a coffee break, parking (as per the bad parking thread.) even speeding. Yes, let's vote BIB.

Edited by nonsequitur on Tuesday 24th January 08:38

[nonsequitur]

super7 said:

I'm surprised it's even legal to use a Handsfree device to be honest. Looking for that phone button on the steering wheel is a right pain in the arse when you steering round a roundabout.....

This is all about concentration and having your eyes on the road....

I'm surprised it's not illegal to lift yourself up in the seat and let rip....

It is. Driving without due flair and contentment.

[Fox-]

phil4 said:

There's your clue. Big difference between facebooking while at 80mph on the M4, and travelling at exactly 0mph, waiting for a light to go green. Not saying it's acceptable, but I can certainly see why people do it at that point.

But legally there is no difference, so soon checking Google traffic at a standstill on the M4 = 6 points, Facebooking whilst negotiating a right hander on an NSL A road = 6 points.

[Vipers]

super7 said:

Vipers said:

super7 said:

I'm surprised it's even legal to use a Handsfree device to be honest. Looking for that phone button on the steering wheel is a right pain in the arse when you steering round a roundabout.....

The world will not stop, the sun will not fall out of the sky, you will not be vaporised by aliens if you don't answer that call in two milliseconds.

Wait until you have completed the manouevour THEN answer the phone.

Really???????

I'll definitely take your guidance and wait next time till i've performed the manouvere next time.... that makes sense!!!!!

Well done. I must have missed the pun.

[catso]

HantsRat said:

If the met managed to identify the officer in the above picture, she will also be offered a fixed penalty and 3 points (or a course if applicable and in use in that area)

Doesn't look to me like you'd need to be Sherlock Holmes to identify her...

[Boosted LS1]

catso said:

HantsRat said:

If the met managed to identify the officer in the above picture, she will also be offered a fixed penalty and 3 points (or a course if applicable and in use in that area)

Doesn't look to me like you'd need to be Sherlock Holmes to identify her...

She was probably facebooking her Sooper ;-) but when it comes to logs and pooled cars it's nigh on impossible to identify the driver. Those Nip's rarely come home to roost.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Monday 23 January 22:40

[anonymous-user]

Boosted LS1 said:

She was probably facebooking her Sooper ;-) but when it comes to logs and pooled cars it's nigh on impossible to identify the driver. Those Nip's rarely come home to roost.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 23 January 22:40

Yes, convenient that

[SEE YA]

At the end of the day, people do not care until it effects them.

It is people's mind set that needs to change?
Maybe on the spot one year ban.

Edited by SEE YA on Sunday 29th January 19:21

[Corpulent Tosser]

yonex said:

The fact is it is allowed for a driver to use a handset if he or she is behind the wheel of a Police car, but the general public are prosecuted. The law is an ass.

That is not a fact.

Use of a mobile is illegal while driving, with a couple of exceptions, and that stands for everyone.

Using a hand held radio is not illegal, so long as you remain in full control of the vehicle, that too stands for everyone.

I am not getting why your knickers are knotted over this.