So who is going to admit to 6 points, or knowing someone....

So who is going to admit to 6 points, or knowing someone....

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rash_decision

Original Poster:

1,387 posts

176 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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I'm wondering who either has been given, or knows someone who has, gained 6 points since the change in the law the other day on mobile telephone/device usage whilst driving?

I was in slow moving traffic on Wednesday evening on the M25, after dark so easy to see them lit up, and couldn't believe the amount of folk on their mobiles! Blatantly obvious. Most of these folk were in company vans and some sign written vehicles, so must need a licence for work duties. Even at £100 fine, it would still be cheaper to buy a Bluetooth device, but definitely now at £200, and even more potential for losing your licence!

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

246 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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I was driving through a town yesterday, where the main road goes over a high hump back bridge over a canal. The police had a trap set, any car coming over the bridge could not see the Police waiting, pulling over anyone on a phone for an instant non negotiable "have some points and a fine" discussion.

Brilliant ambush position. They had a section of road cordoned off for parking for offenders.

Two van drivers were pulled as I passed.

rxtx

6,016 posts

209 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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I sit a bit higher up than most cars and do the A1/M25 every day. If I don't notice at least 5 people using their phone each way then that makes a change.

Should have made the fine means tested.

rash_decision

Original Poster:

1,387 posts

176 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
quotequote all
TTmonkey said:
I was driving through a town yesterday, where the main road goes over a high hump back bridge over a canal. The police had a trap set, any car coming over the bridge could not see the Police waiting, pulling over anyone on a phone for an instant non negotiable "have some points and a fine" discussion.

Brilliant ambush position. They had a section of road cordoned off for parking for offenders.

Two van drivers were pulled as I passed.
I just don't get why folk do it??

I was flying back up the road from London last night, and the guy sat next to me didn't put his phone down. It caught my attention, but obviously not looking at the guys business but recognised the screens, as constantly flicking between Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Instagram, Snapchat..............are folk that caught up in social media these days that they just 'have' to carry on whilst driving?? It made me wonder if the guy sat next to me would be the type to drive and use the phone to keep up with the world! Lol.

I was listening to Radio 1 whilst in the traffic, and they were interviewing a guy that had killed another man because he crashed his car whilst using his phone. The interview revolved around the remorse of the driver, and the fact the deceased man's girlfriend wanted to meet him. The young lad looks to be going to prison. I wondered how many folk were listening to the same radio station, whilst using their phone, either oblivious, or adopting the age old attitude of 'it'll never happen to me!'.

rash_decision

Original Poster:

1,387 posts

176 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
quotequote all
rxtx said:
I sit a bit higher up than most cars and do the A1/M25 every day. If I don't notice at least 5 people using their phone each way then that makes a change.

Should have made the fine means tested.
I would say 5 is low given what I have seen recently??

Quite literally, about 20 vehicles I passed the other night whilst crawling through traffic, had drivers on their phones, but didn't appear to be holding them for a call, but looking at the screens, browsing. Most had passengers, who were obviously happy to have the driver use their phone and be neglecting driving duties!

Means tested is a good shout! Especially given some of the cars I seen with negligent drivers!

Cfnteabag

1,195 posts

195 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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Instead of points or taking someones license away as most would probably just drive anyway they should confiscate the phone for 24 hours to be collected from the nearest police station.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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rash_decision said:
rxtx said:
I sit a bit higher up than most cars and do the A1/M25 every day. If I don't notice at least 5 people using their phone each way then that makes a change.

Should have made the fine means tested.
I would say 5 is low given what I have seen recently??

Quite literally, about 20 vehicles I passed the other night whilst crawling through traffic, had drivers on their phones, but didn't appear to be holding them for a call, but looking at the screens, browsing. Most had passengers, who were obviously happy to have the driver use their phone and be neglecting driving duties!

Means tested is a good shout! Especially given some of the cars I seen with negligent drivers!
In a way, 6 points means it doesn't matter too much if it's mean tested or not - many people don't have a clean licence so it'd push many people close to the limit meaning they'd have to drive squeakily clean for a couple of years. I suppose the argument against this is that if a plumber needs to be mobile for his work and to remove his licence would kill his business, would he avoid a ban?

rash_decision

Original Poster:

1,387 posts

176 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
In a way, 6 points means it doesn't matter too much if it's mean tested or not - many people don't have a clean licence so it'd push many people close to the limit meaning they'd have to drive squeakily clean for a couple of years. I suppose the argument against this is that if a plumber needs to be mobile for his work and to remove his licence would kill his business, would he avoid a ban?
I don't see why he should avoid a ban. Harsh, but my opinion. We're all governed by the same laws, so it should be one rule for all.

Where I think it is selfish, is where other folks livelihood relies on the person flouting the law. Over and above the safety aspect of it all, of course.

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

246 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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Many people are allowed to continue driving with far more than 12 points.

Mr GrimNasty

8,172 posts

169 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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I expect in the vast majority of cases, unless the offender is an arse or a repeat offender, they will be offered a 'course' instead - the increased punishment just increases the money making opportunity.

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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Slightly O/T. But does anyone have figures for the percentage of drivers with zero/3/6/9 points? (I appreciate other numbers of points are available.)

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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Hoofy said:
In a way, 6 points means it doesn't matter too much if it's mean tested or not - many people don't have a clean licence so it'd push many people close to the limit meaning they'd have to drive squeakily clean for a couple of years. I suppose the argument against this is that if a plumber needs to be mobile for his work and to remove his licence would kill his business, would he avoid a ban?
I've got a lot of mates who are self-employed builders/plumbers/sparks/heating engineers. They are on their phones - not bluetooth, holding them - pretty well constantly when driving. They all seem to have a similar aversion to wearing a seatbelt too.

Snails

915 posts

165 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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Mr GrimNasty said:
I expect in the vast majority of cases, unless the offender is an arse or a repeat offender, they will be offered a 'course' instead - the increased punishment just increases the money making opportunity.
Taking a course is no longer an option if you are caught using a mobile.

bazza white

3,551 posts

127 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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I think they should also have their phone confiscated. I would love to see the reaction of someone who has had their shiny new iPhone removed from them and crushed. I think this would have better results.

Cold

15,207 posts

89 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
quotequote all
rash_decision said:
I was listening to Radio 1 whilst in the traffic, and they were interviewing a guy that had killed another man because he crashed his car whilst using his phone. The interview revolved around the remorse of the driver, and the fact the deceased man's girlfriend wanted to meet him. The young lad looks to be going to prison. I wondered how many folk were listening to the same radio station, whilst using their phone, either oblivious, or adopting the age old attitude of 'it'll never happen to me!'.
They did well to find someone. During all of this recent publicity one BBC report I listened to said that 22 people were killed last year directly attributable to phone use while driving. Still 22 too many, but it doesn't seem to have the automatic widespread murder/death/kill effect that some might have you believe. Even this thread throws up numerous eyewitness accounts of phone use while driving. None mention a death.

steveo3002

10,493 posts

173 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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take the phone and somehow blacklist them for signing up for a new one , okay someone else will get them a phone but make it hard

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

246 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
quotequote all
steveo3002 said:
take the phone and somehow blacklist them for signing up for a new one , okay someone else will get them a phone but make it hard
Murderers in jail can get mobile phones, so that would seem to be a bit pointless.

But I think taking it out of their hands, placing it on the floor, and smashing it, would get the point over adequately.

hman

7,487 posts

193 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
quotequote all
4 of those deaths were from 1 crash involving a lorry smashing into 3 cars in a queue and crushing a hatchback under the rear of another tuck (the A34 tragedy).

I somehow think that if the driver in that RTA was on his phone but driving a CAR then the resulting crash would have been far less severe.

The new law is a hard line to hopefully prevent another tragedy of the same magnitude.

The point is its wrong to not be concentrating on your driving and there are plenty of bluetooth hands free + phone holder options available nowadays so there's really no excuse.


DaveGoddard

1,192 posts

144 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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TTmonkey said:
Murderers in jail can get mobile phones, so that would seem to be a bit pointless.

But I think taking it out of their hands, placing it on the floor, and smashing it, would get the point over adequately.
I'm inclined to agree. Most people these days would probably see the loss of their phone as far worse than loss of their driving licence.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Friday 3rd March 2017
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I’m glad they’re cracking down.

If I’m brutally honest I will very occasionally glance at my phone and / or answer it while driving (if only to tell the caller that I’m driving and will call them back). I know, I know- bad thing. I chastise myself for it when I catch myself doing it- but sharing the roads with so many road users who appear glued to their mobiles in my opinion sets up a bit of a subconscious ‘this must be socially acceptable’ attitude and without wishing to sound cocky I am confident that I can safely control the car while doing it. Perhaps I’ve a weakness for it- but it can’t be just me who sees other motorists do it and start to consider it basically normal / acceptable in a way it wasn’t several years ago. Human nature I reckon.