Texting whilst driving - Belgium style.
Discussion
This Girl started Texting During her Brussels Driving Test. I wonder if it'll catch on.
http://damnbored.tv/girl-texting-driving-test-inst...
http://damnbored.tv/girl-texting-driving-test-inst...
Brilliant!
Only caveat I have is that new drivers obviously have minimal experience and so are kept pretty busy anyway. However once they have a bit of experience they start to find they have time on their hands so out comes the smartphone with predictable results, sooner if not later.
Only caveat I have is that new drivers obviously have minimal experience and so are kept pretty busy anyway. However once they have a bit of experience they start to find they have time on their hands so out comes the smartphone with predictable results, sooner if not later.
There were 109,000 reportable accidents in the UK in 2013 (reportable accidents involve injuries - from minor injuries up to fatalities). How many of those accidents do you think were attributed - in part - to drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving?
50%? (54,500 accidents)
25%? (27,250 accidents)
10%? (10,900 accidents)
The correct answer, believe it or not, is 0.39% - 422 accidents, in total, out of 109,000 were caused solely or partly by a driver using their mobile phone.
Now, I'm not trying to say that driving whilst using a mobile phone isn't distracting, or dangerous, or something to be discouraged - it's all of these things and people should be educated about the dangers of texting, updating Facebook and making calls whilst driving.
It would, however, be nice if the campaigners and educators would take a step back every now and again and look at the bigger picture.
By comparison, the biggest cause of accidents in the UK is "driver/rider failed to look properly". That contributory factor accounted for 42% of all accidents in 2013, or around 45,800 accidents. I appreciate that a few of those people weren't looking properly because they were texting etc. but I really think more effort should be put into educating people about the real causes of the majority of accidents in the UK - lack of concentration, distraction and failing to look properly, anticipate and plan.
With reference to the video, I get the point, but it would have been significantly less dramatic if the "examiner" had worn his seatbelt all the time and hadn't surreptitiously yanked the handbrake on at the relevant times.
50%? (54,500 accidents)
25%? (27,250 accidents)
10%? (10,900 accidents)
The correct answer, believe it or not, is 0.39% - 422 accidents, in total, out of 109,000 were caused solely or partly by a driver using their mobile phone.
Now, I'm not trying to say that driving whilst using a mobile phone isn't distracting, or dangerous, or something to be discouraged - it's all of these things and people should be educated about the dangers of texting, updating Facebook and making calls whilst driving.
It would, however, be nice if the campaigners and educators would take a step back every now and again and look at the bigger picture.
By comparison, the biggest cause of accidents in the UK is "driver/rider failed to look properly". That contributory factor accounted for 42% of all accidents in 2013, or around 45,800 accidents. I appreciate that a few of those people weren't looking properly because they were texting etc. but I really think more effort should be put into educating people about the real causes of the majority of accidents in the UK - lack of concentration, distraction and failing to look properly, anticipate and plan.
With reference to the video, I get the point, but it would have been significantly less dramatic if the "examiner" had worn his seatbelt all the time and hadn't surreptitiously yanked the handbrake on at the relevant times.
Reg Local said:
There were 109,000 reportable accidents in the UK in 2013 (reportable accidents involve injuries - from minor injuries up to fatalities). How many of those accidents do you think were attributed - in part - to drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving?
50%? (54,500 accidents)
25%? (27,250 accidents)
10%? (10,900 accidents)
The correct answer, believe it or not, is 0.39% - 422 accidents, in total, out of 109,000 were caused solely or partly by a driver using their mobile phone.
Now, I'm not trying to say that driving whilst using a mobile phone isn't distracting, or dangerous, or something to be discouraged - it's all of these things and people should be educated about the dangers of texting, updating Facebook and making calls whilst driving.
It would, however, be nice if the campaigners and educators would take a step back every now and again and look at the bigger picture.
By comparison, the biggest cause of accidents in the UK is "driver/rider failed to look properly". That contributory factor accounted for 42% of all accidents in 2013, or around 45,800 accidents. I appreciate that a few of those people weren't looking properly because they were texting etc. but I really think more effort should be put into educating people about the real causes of the majority of accidents in the UK - lack of concentration, distraction and failing to look properly, anticipate and plan.
With reference to the video, I get the point, but it would have been significantly less dramatic if the "examiner" had worn his seatbelt all the time and hadn't surreptitiously yanked the handbrake on at the relevant times.
That rather depends on the quality, accuracy in & of the interpretation of the data.50%? (54,500 accidents)
25%? (27,250 accidents)
10%? (10,900 accidents)
The correct answer, believe it or not, is 0.39% - 422 accidents, in total, out of 109,000 were caused solely or partly by a driver using their mobile phone.
Now, I'm not trying to say that driving whilst using a mobile phone isn't distracting, or dangerous, or something to be discouraged - it's all of these things and people should be educated about the dangers of texting, updating Facebook and making calls whilst driving.
It would, however, be nice if the campaigners and educators would take a step back every now and again and look at the bigger picture.
By comparison, the biggest cause of accidents in the UK is "driver/rider failed to look properly". That contributory factor accounted for 42% of all accidents in 2013, or around 45,800 accidents. I appreciate that a few of those people weren't looking properly because they were texting etc. but I really think more effort should be put into educating people about the real causes of the majority of accidents in the UK - lack of concentration, distraction and failing to look properly, anticipate and plan.
With reference to the video, I get the point, but it would have been significantly less dramatic if the "examiner" had worn his seatbelt all the time and hadn't surreptitiously yanked the handbrake on at the relevant times.
Could mobiles have been a cause in more than you've said, just that the evidence that they were wasn't available because a) people lied about it, b) investigations weren't of a depth to reveal the truth of the matter etc?
In fatality cases it's something that will have been looked at in far more depth than a minor injury collision.
Also not all reportable collisions are reported & people offending whilst being involved are less likely to report them.
vonhosen said:
Reg Local said:
There were 109,000 reportable accidents in the UK in 2013 (reportable accidents involve injuries - from minor injuries up to fatalities). How many of those accidents do you think were attributed - in part - to drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving?
50%? (54,500 accidents)
25%? (27,250 accidents)
10%? (10,900 accidents)
The correct answer, believe it or not, is 0.39% - 422 accidents, in total, out of 109,000 were caused solely or partly by a driver using their mobile phone.
Now, I'm not trying to say that driving whilst using a mobile phone isn't distracting, or dangerous, or something to be discouraged - it's all of these things and people should be educated about the dangers of texting, updating Facebook and making calls whilst driving.
It would, however, be nice if the campaigners and educators would take a step back every now and again and look at the bigger picture.
By comparison, the biggest cause of accidents in the UK is "driver/rider failed to look properly". That contributory factor accounted for 42% of all accidents in 2013, or around 45,800 accidents. I appreciate that a few of those people weren't looking properly because they were texting etc. but I really think more effort should be put into educating people about the real causes of the majority of accidents in the UK - lack of concentration, distraction and failing to look properly, anticipate and plan.
With reference to the video, I get the point, but it would have been significantly less dramatic if the "examiner" had worn his seatbelt all the time and hadn't surreptitiously yanked the handbrake on at the relevant times.
That rather depends on the quality, accuracy in & of the interpretation of the data.50%? (54,500 accidents)
25%? (27,250 accidents)
10%? (10,900 accidents)
The correct answer, believe it or not, is 0.39% - 422 accidents, in total, out of 109,000 were caused solely or partly by a driver using their mobile phone.
Now, I'm not trying to say that driving whilst using a mobile phone isn't distracting, or dangerous, or something to be discouraged - it's all of these things and people should be educated about the dangers of texting, updating Facebook and making calls whilst driving.
It would, however, be nice if the campaigners and educators would take a step back every now and again and look at the bigger picture.
By comparison, the biggest cause of accidents in the UK is "driver/rider failed to look properly". That contributory factor accounted for 42% of all accidents in 2013, or around 45,800 accidents. I appreciate that a few of those people weren't looking properly because they were texting etc. but I really think more effort should be put into educating people about the real causes of the majority of accidents in the UK - lack of concentration, distraction and failing to look properly, anticipate and plan.
With reference to the video, I get the point, but it would have been significantly less dramatic if the "examiner" had worn his seatbelt all the time and hadn't surreptitiously yanked the handbrake on at the relevant times.
Could mobiles have been a cause in more than you've said, just that the evidence that they were wasn't available because a) people lied about it, b) investigations weren't of a depth to reveal the truth of the matter etc?
In fatality cases it's something that will have been looked at in far more depth than a minor injury collision.
Who is going to admit sending a text just before a collision?
Texting several much more involved than merely talking on a phone.
Texting takes up alot of processing power in your brain.
Talking doesn't.
Last week, while commuting to work on my GS1150 I passed a woman in Wandsworth driving a big black jag.
He car was wandering a bit, I passed cautiously.
In her left hand she held a mobile phone on which she was texting with her thumb.
In her right hand she had a mcdonalds wrap, which she was eating, whilst simultanepously holding the seering wheel with both, and travelling at 20MPH
Amazing.
It nvere ceases to amaze me the number of people driving forwards, looking into their laps at phones.
Plod do absolutely nothing about it.
Nothing at all.
stuttgartmetal said:
vonhosen said:
Reg Local said:
There were 109,000 reportable accidents in the UK in 2013 (reportable accidents involve injuries - from minor injuries up to fatalities). How many of those accidents do you think were attributed - in part - to drivers using their mobile phones whilst driving?
50%? (54,500 accidents)
25%? (27,250 accidents)
10%? (10,900 accidents)
The correct answer, believe it or not, is 0.39% - 422 accidents, in total, out of 109,000 were caused solely or partly by a driver using their mobile phone.
Now, I'm not trying to say that driving whilst using a mobile phone isn't distracting, or dangerous, or something to be discouraged - it's all of these things and people should be educated about the dangers of texting, updating Facebook and making calls whilst driving.
It would, however, be nice if the campaigners and educators would take a step back every now and again and look at the bigger picture.
By comparison, the biggest cause of accidents in the UK is "driver/rider failed to look properly". That contributory factor accounted for 42% of all accidents in 2013, or around 45,800 accidents. I appreciate that a few of those people weren't looking properly because they were texting etc. but I really think more effort should be put into educating people about the real causes of the majority of accidents in the UK - lack of concentration, distraction and failing to look properly, anticipate and plan.
With reference to the video, I get the point, but it would have been significantly less dramatic if the "examiner" had worn his seatbelt all the time and hadn't surreptitiously yanked the handbrake on at the relevant times.
That rather depends on the quality, accuracy in & of the interpretation of the data.50%? (54,500 accidents)
25%? (27,250 accidents)
10%? (10,900 accidents)
The correct answer, believe it or not, is 0.39% - 422 accidents, in total, out of 109,000 were caused solely or partly by a driver using their mobile phone.
Now, I'm not trying to say that driving whilst using a mobile phone isn't distracting, or dangerous, or something to be discouraged - it's all of these things and people should be educated about the dangers of texting, updating Facebook and making calls whilst driving.
It would, however, be nice if the campaigners and educators would take a step back every now and again and look at the bigger picture.
By comparison, the biggest cause of accidents in the UK is "driver/rider failed to look properly". That contributory factor accounted for 42% of all accidents in 2013, or around 45,800 accidents. I appreciate that a few of those people weren't looking properly because they were texting etc. but I really think more effort should be put into educating people about the real causes of the majority of accidents in the UK - lack of concentration, distraction and failing to look properly, anticipate and plan.
With reference to the video, I get the point, but it would have been significantly less dramatic if the "examiner" had worn his seatbelt all the time and hadn't surreptitiously yanked the handbrake on at the relevant times.
Could mobiles have been a cause in more than you've said, just that the evidence that they were wasn't available because a) people lied about it, b) investigations weren't of a depth to reveal the truth of the matter etc?
In fatality cases it's something that will have been looked at in far more depth than a minor injury collision.
Who is going to admit sending a text just before a collision?
Texting several much more involved than merely talking on a phone.
Texting takes up alot of processing power in your brain.
Talking doesn't.
Last week, while commuting to work on my GS1150 I passed a woman in Wandsworth driving a big black jag.
He car was wandering a bit, I passed cautiously.
In her left hand she held a mobile phone on which she was texting with her thumb.
In her right hand she had a mcdonalds wrap, which she was eating, whilst simultanepously holding the seering wheel with both, and travelling at 20MPH
Amazing.
It nvere ceases to amaze me the number of people driving forwards, looking into their laps at phones.
Plod do absolutely nothing about it.
Nothing at all.
There has also been a consultation that has just finished into increasing the FPN fine/points for mobile phone offences.
Your points are all valid - there are a number of reasons that these statistics could be flawed, not least of which is that they don't include non-injury bumps, and that people will lie if asked "were you on the phone?".
They are, however, the DFT's own statistics and are based on reports submitted by police officers, summarising their opinion of the contributory factors which led up to the accident, so no actual evidence is required in order to tick the relevant box on the accident report.
There are a number of similar anomalies - the stats show that only 4% of all accidents are reported as being caused in part by "exceeding the speed limit" and only 4% of all accidents have "driver/rider impaired by alcohol" as a contributory factor - a statistic which if far more likely to be accurate than the other two examples.
Putting the question about the accuracy of statistics to one side, however, I still think there is a strong argument that education & enforcement isn't really being directed at the most common causes of injury accidents.
They are, however, the DFT's own statistics and are based on reports submitted by police officers, summarising their opinion of the contributory factors which led up to the accident, so no actual evidence is required in order to tick the relevant box on the accident report.
There are a number of similar anomalies - the stats show that only 4% of all accidents are reported as being caused in part by "exceeding the speed limit" and only 4% of all accidents have "driver/rider impaired by alcohol" as a contributory factor - a statistic which if far more likely to be accurate than the other two examples.
Putting the question about the accuracy of statistics to one side, however, I still think there is a strong argument that education & enforcement isn't really being directed at the most common causes of injury accidents.
Reg, in your experience how have these percentages changed over the years?
as you know, cars 30yrs ago were less insulated from the outside world and you wouldn't pay attention elsewhere as easily as people do today (or so i think..). Today's cars are quiet and tyres/suspension make them a lot more stable. veer off course in an old Morris and you might not catch it with knee steering!
as you know, cars 30yrs ago were less insulated from the outside world and you wouldn't pay attention elsewhere as easily as people do today (or so i think..). Today's cars are quiet and tyres/suspension make them a lot more stable. veer off course in an old Morris and you might not catch it with knee steering!
vonhosen said:
That rather depends on the quality, accuracy in & of the interpretation of the data.
Could mobiles have been a cause in more than you've said, just that the evidence that they were wasn't available because a) people lied about it, b) investigations weren't of a depth to reveal the truth of the matter etc?
In fatality cases it's something that will have been looked at in far more depth than a minor injury collision.
Also not all reportable collisions are reported & people offending whilst being involved are less likely to report them.
Agree.Could mobiles have been a cause in more than you've said, just that the evidence that they were wasn't available because a) people lied about it, b) investigations weren't of a depth to reveal the truth of the matter etc?
In fatality cases it's something that will have been looked at in far more depth than a minor injury collision.
Also not all reportable collisions are reported & people offending whilst being involved are less likely to report them.
vonhosen said:
AMG Merc said:
Interesting. I wonder - following an accident does BiB check any mobile phones present for activity just prior to the incident? This would make the stats a lot more accurate.
Not as a matter of course, but in a serious/fatal collision....Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff