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

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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!

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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!'.

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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!

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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 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.

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There's no doubt they are dangerous to be used in a moving vehicle, but are accidents happening more due to the smart phone era and how they are being used? I remember my first phone, an old Panasonic J series. Extendable ariel and all! Nowhere as near a distraction having a quick blether back in the day, as it is now to be posting on Facebook or reading the latest blog from someone! you at least had your head upright holding the phone at your ear rather than trying to be discreet, and staring at your lap!!!

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mygoldfishbowl said:

No, it really isn't. Read his second or third post. You are correct that you need to observe the vehicle however some people seem to only want to observe what people are doing rather than how the vehicle is being driven.

If people are driving around concentrating on what other drivers are doing, rather than how other vehicles are being driven, then they are obviously not concentrating on what they're doing.

It really doesn't take more than a second glance to see someone is on their phone, especially in the dusk, as per my OP, it is blantantly obvious there's a phone lit up in someone's face. Particularly on the M25 at 18:00!! You are contradicting yourself saying that if someone is concentrating on what other drivers are doing, rather than how other vehicles are being driven, then they are not concentrating on their own driving?? Either aspect is concentrating on something else?

I find that establishing a driver's stance helps establish their next move. Where they're looking, what they're doing, many a time I have changed my road position based on the fact someone clearly has their interest elsewhere, and made a move oblivious to my existence!! You can read a driver if you see them, so personally I find it quite important to judge a driver's mannerisms. More so if they are on a bloody mobile phone!!!!