Ever been had Mr plod?

[gh0st]

Hand held - absolutly I have no real problems with that as they are breaking a law and although I believe that in the right circumstances, it makes no difference to driving, its your job to uphold that law so whatever.

However

I throw the challenge out again - follow me while making a call on my legal bluetooth handsfree setup and i bet you cant tell when i am in a conversation or not....

[GreenV8S]

It's quite common on the M1 to see repmobiles drop out of warp and allow themselves to get boxed into lane two (lane one obviously defective and not fit to be driven on), a few minutes later the same repmobile comes blasting down lane three trying to climb over the top of cars in front. Quite often the driver can be seen using a hand-held phone. My guess is the other ones are on hands free. Maybe some drivers have got the knack of using the phone and driving at the same time, but I get the impression that there are a lot of drivers out there who haven't.

[BliarOut]

gh0st said:

Hand held - absolutly I have no real problems with that as they are breaking a law and although I believe that in the right circumstances, it makes no difference to driving, its your job to uphold that law so whatever. However I throw the challenge out again - follow me while making a call on my legal bluetooth handsfree setup and i bet you cant tell when i am in a conversation or not....

Those bluetooth headsets are awesome. If you haven't got one, get one. I tried mine out for the first time last night and it's no different from chatting to a passenger sat in your car. You think you are in control in the car while you're holding a normal phone until you try one of these. TBH, with a hand held, you're not in full control.

Lesson over from one of the converted.

[Prof Beard]

IaHa said:

So in the absence of a crystal ball, or a driver's certificate to confirm the driver's ability to multitask with absolutely no added risk, then the hand held mobile user will always make my fixed penalty pad one sheet lighter, unless usage is in stationary traffic in a situation which is very unlikely to add risk.

This is exactly the point I was trying to make earlier - but expressed far more effectively!

Prof Beard

[mojocvh]

Prof Beard said:

IaHa said: So in the absence of a crystal ball, or a driver's certificate to confirm the driver's ability to multitask with absolutely no added risk, then the hand held mobile user will always make my fixed penalty pad one sheet lighter, unless usage is in stationary traffic in a situation which is very unlikely to add risk. This is exactly the point I was trying to make earlier - but expressed far more effectively! Prof Beard

So you carry a crystal ball to forsee the accident that is still to occur and nab them before the accident occurs....thats amazing..

Mojo.

[LongQ]

Wacky Racer said:

I saw a woman driving round a very busy roundabout in Bury yesterday, reading a folded newspaper she had leant on the steering wheel, whilst holding a phone between her ear and left shoulder..... Should lock 'em up and throw the key away.......

Apparently women can do that sort of thing . good at multi-tasking.

I saw one a few years ago on the 3 lane roundabout at J24 of the M4. Stopped at the lights in lane 3 chatting away. Lights turned green and she pulled off straight ahead to go up the A449. Trouble is to do that from there you should be in lane 1, though to be fair all three lanes are stopped by the lighrts when still facing the 449 and the entrance looks wide enough to be at least 2 lanes. She made the manoeuvre with no problems - for her at least. I think she was quite oblivious to what she had done - either that or she knew precisely what she was doing and managed the task perfectly - not sure which.

[LongQ]

GreenV8S said:

It's quite common on the M1 to see repmobiles drop out of warp and allow themselves to get boxed into lane two (lane one obviously defective and not fit to be driven on), a few minutes later the same repmobile comes blasting down lane three trying to climb over the top of cars in front. Quite often the driver can be seen using a hand-held phone. My guess is the other ones are on hands free. Maybe some drivers have got the knack of using the phone and driving at the same time, but I get the impression that there are a lot of drivers out there who haven't.

It's only the rep newbies who drive like that with just a phone glued to their ears. The experienced pro only wanders about the lane when the call is to place an order and he needs to look up some prices in the catalogue and fill in the order form at the same time as he talks to the client.

A real road warrior can do that AND drink a coffee, eat a pie and smoke all at the same time. I know - I've seen them. Truckers can do it as well, though normally they have a map or maybe tips sheet to hand rather than an order pad.

[IaHa]

mojocvh said:

Prof Beard said: IaHa said: So in the absence of a crystal ball, or a driver's certificate to confirm the driver's ability to multitask with absolutely no added risk, then the hand held mobile user will always make my fixed penalty pad one sheet lighter, unless usage is in stationary traffic in a situation which is very unlikely to add risk. This is exactly the point I was trying to make earlier - but expressed far more effectively! Prof Beard So you carry a crystal ball to forsee the accident that is still to occur and nab them before the accident occurs....thats amazing.. Mojo.

Two aspects of my job are

1 - To prevent collisions.
2 - To deal with collisions.

I know which I'd rather do more of.

My own experience, dealing with RTCs and witnessing the obvious loss of the basic aspects of C.O.A.S.T. because an average driver picks up and uses his hand held, added to the evidence of others posted on here, and strengthened by all the research conducted into the issue thus far, allows me to keep my crystal ball at home.

I believe that the government have recognised that there is risk x 3 for hands free, and risk x 10 for hands held (guess) and realised that mobile phones will be used in cars no matter what. They have opted for the best compromise option and outlawed the hand held option. Everyone has the opportunity to use a mobile legally in a car. If they choose to take the riskier option, they may get one of my tickets.

[streaky]

It's a strange law that bans the use of a hand-held cell-phone, but not using it - even just lying on the seat next to you - for texting (another law applies ... but would do equally well for the first 'offience'). Pressing buttons on the 'phone is not prohibited, only holding it. Also, the particular law does not make illegal the use of a personal music device, even when hand-held.

I posted elsewhere that I now frequently see pedestrians meandering about the pavement oblivious to other 'traffic', with their heads down texting away or searching for a particular track on their 'eye-pod'.

'The Law' is an ass, and has become even more of one under recent governments. Whenever there is an 'issue', the current mob think of nothing but introducing a new law, even when existing laws can be used. Even the police call for new laws when there are already adequate weapons in their arsenal. And when the laws are enacted, we quickly see their abuse.

Streaky

[IaHa]

If there is a law in existence, the application of which will, in my belief, make the road a safer, more courteous place to be then I will enforce it.

I'm happy to debate and read debate about what legislation contributes to road safety, and am open minded enough to change my stance if the oposite held viewpoint is proved reasonably to me.

[WildCat]

valhalla said:

Whilst out driving last night, we were negotiating a roundabout, and i was on my phone at the time. Sods law!!! a cop car joined the roundabout from the next exit, My wife Diane said...he is flashing his lights, so i think we should pull over don't you? So we did, We just sat in the car and waited for him to come to us. I knew why he had stopped us...Yes it was the using of the Phone whilst driving. He appeared at my window, and you should have seen his face, when he realised that we were driving my wifes left hand drive Smart car,and i was the passenger, He exclaimed a big Aghhhhhhhhhh, when he saw the error of his ways, and laughed his head off, and so did we. But the Barsteward had to have the last word...Get that brake light fixed asap Don't ya just love it when you get one up on em, coz this Braintree copper looked about 14 years old, smarmy little Sit!!!!! made our day Dave

He should use eyes und know his cars better... But at least he laughed at self und with you. s to the BiB here.

As for the brake light...was his job to mention this. You should really check POWER before setting off. I test brake light - by looking in mirror at reflection in front window, on of other cars or looking to see if both sides of garage/garden gate posts have a red glow on them. Other lights are easy - quick walk around car! Always have spare bulbs in kit as well. Does not take up room - easy to sort.

Und.. you know what they say if BiB start to appear too young

means


You are growing into old farty Liebchen

[WildCat]

As for Handys - know my views. See them as not essential to my life. Tend to avoid using mine - only in dire emergency. Nothing should get in way of enjoying my drive or ride on bikes - motorbike - fairly often - and pedal cycle on occasion.

[WildCat]

Adom said:

rewc said: In Poole a lady motorist was parked quite safely but had left the engine running whilst making a call. She had a child or baby in a travelling seat. She was given a very strong bollocking by a reportedly very stroppy police woman who actually accussed her of being a bad mother before giving her the fixed penalty. This of course reduced the woman to tears. The womans husband complained and there was an article in the local paper. The Penalty notice was withdrawn with the police making a wish washy statement about the policewoman being over enthusiastic. Most of us realise that the police have a difficult time and I would not want to clear the streets of Bournemouth on a Saturday night. I am sure they meet all sorts of scrouts in there job but there is no reason for them to assume we all are. We on the other hand rarely have anything to do with the police but when we do it is invariably to do with traffic and that is where we form our opinions about the Police. Nail. Head. Hit.

Sort of thing gives BiB bad name. She should have used more professional judgement - especially if child was secure, car was parked legally - and if scrotes were around - may have been more dangerous to get out of car or even impractical if her child seat was in passenger seat. Fact she did not swtich off engine sound more like oversight to me - discretion should have been used and there is zero excuse for rudeness anyways.

At all time - BiB are supposed to represent their employer - just like staff in bank and in shops are expected to show courtesy - as it reflects on standadrd und level of professionalism....