Mobile phone use
Discussion
I've got to ask this question, as the change in law doesn't seem to have made any difference.
A couple of weeks back I saw two different drivers making calls with their mobiles. Both were driving competently. I have no particular problem with a driver doing this if they are driving correctly.
How about the rest of you?
The reason I ask, is because one of the drivers was a WPC in a marked car. I presume she doesn't have a problem with it either. This is not a knock at the BiB, I am genuinely curious, does everyone who gets spotted get a ticket, or are some just told to behave.
Why we needed a specific offence is beyond me, surely driving without due care covered this?
Phil
A couple of weeks back I saw two different drivers making calls with their mobiles. Both were driving competently. I have no particular problem with a driver doing this if they are driving correctly.
How about the rest of you?
The reason I ask, is because one of the drivers was a WPC in a marked car. I presume she doesn't have a problem with it either. This is not a knock at the BiB, I am genuinely curious, does everyone who gets spotted get a ticket, or are some just told to behave.
Why we needed a specific offence is beyond me, surely driving without due care covered this?
Phil
philthy said:
I've got to ask this question, as the change in law doesn't seem to have made any difference.
A couple of weeks back I saw two different drivers making calls with their mobiles. Both were driving competently. I have no particular problem with a driver doing this if they are driving correctly.
How about the rest of you?
The reason I ask, is because one of the drivers was a WPC in a marked car. I presume she doesn't have a problem with it either. This is not a knock at the BiB, I am genuinely curious, does everyone who gets spotted get a ticket, or are some just told to behave.
Why we needed a specific offence is beyond me, surely driving without due care covered this?
Phil
Oh I agree with you completely Phil. The law about mobile phones and driving as introduced last December is sheer nonsense and totally unjustified.
I still see people driving and using hand held mobile phones, and almost invariably the vehicle can be seen to be progressing perfectly satisfactorily.
The main difference made by the new law is the increased prospect of a fine being levied if you are caught, but nothing useful is being achieved.
I suppose we should brace ourselves for a lengthy and colourful contribution from our friends in the north west territory again, but we won't worry about that. Behind all the smokescreen I'm not sure they really understand these things, in rational practical terms the way you and I do Phil.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
TripleS said:
I suppose we should brace ourselves for a lengthy and colourful contribution from our friends in the north west territory again, but we won't worry about that. Behind all the smokescreen I'm not sure they really understand these things,
Dave.
Keh?
Thinks:....Never get into a fight with a sewage worker! 
My ol' Dad told me that.... >> Edited by 8Pack on Saturday 27th November 01:28
8Pack said:
I suppose we should brace ourselves for a lengthy and colourful contribution from our friends in the north west territory again, but we won't worry about that. Behind all the smokescreen I'm not sure they really understand these things,
Dave.
Keh?
>> Edited by 8Pack on Saturday 27th November 01:28
Best wishes all,
Dave - part time stirrer.
Those officers who use phones in cars whilst driving are foolish.
A complaint from a MOP will be investigated. It will not be difficult for PSD to get a conviction on this if the times are accurately reported.
A stark warning was put out in my force on the advent of this legislation.
Anyone found using mobile equipment in vehicles will be prosecuted. In the event that a death occurs in the cirumstances of a collision whilst a phone was in use (either talking or Texting), then that would be evidence to support a charge of causing death by Dangerous Driving (Section 1 RTA 1988).
Only specified people are sanctioned to use phones whilst driving, even hard wired phones. These are basically firearms commanders on route to spontaneous incidents!
Generally nothing has changed because the chances of getting caught doing it are so small (hardly any bib to patrol the roads
). If you get 'caught out' whilst phoning, that is a different matter when the investigator starts scrutinising the bill he has obtained (via RIPA Act) from your service provider in the event of a serious catastrophy!
A complaint from a MOP will be investigated. It will not be difficult for PSD to get a conviction on this if the times are accurately reported.
A stark warning was put out in my force on the advent of this legislation.
Anyone found using mobile equipment in vehicles will be prosecuted. In the event that a death occurs in the cirumstances of a collision whilst a phone was in use (either talking or Texting), then that would be evidence to support a charge of causing death by Dangerous Driving (Section 1 RTA 1988).
Only specified people are sanctioned to use phones whilst driving, even hard wired phones. These are basically firearms commanders on route to spontaneous incidents!
Generally nothing has changed because the chances of getting caught doing it are so small (hardly any bib to patrol the roads
). If you get 'caught out' whilst phoning, that is a different matter when the investigator starts scrutinising the bill he has obtained (via RIPA Act) from your service provider in the event of a serious catastrophy!We (BiB) can't use our handheld Tetra when driving, as it has the capability to be used as a telephone.
Even if we are just using the radio function, it's a
. However, if it were a radio that was just a radio (ie without phone capability), we would be able to use it.
Another well thought out piece of legislation...
An exemption on this one for BiB/emergency services would have been a good idea, IMHO (just for our radios, not mobile phones).
Even if we are just using the radio function, it's a
. However, if it were a radio that was just a radio (ie without phone capability), we would be able to use it. Another well thought out piece of legislation...
An exemption on this one for BiB/emergency services would have been a good idea, IMHO (just for our radios, not mobile phones).
philthy said:
I've got to ask this question, as the change in law doesn't seem to have made any difference.
A couple of weeks back I saw two different drivers making calls with their mobiles. Both were driving competently. I have no particular problem with a driver doing this if they are driving correctly.
How about the rest of you?
Hmm.. I can't agree, sorry.
They may appear to have been driving competently, but driving while holding a phone must reduce your ability to deal with any hazards that appear. Or the next roundabout.
And that's without considering the distraction of the conversation (which no matter what anyone says is not the same as a conversation with a passenger.)
As for emergency services having exemption, I don't agree with that either.
If it's dangerous for Joe Public to hold a phone while driving within the limit, then it must be doubly so for someone on an emergency call.
>> Edited by 'King Deadly on Saturday 27th November 16:42
'King Deadly said:
As for emergency services having exemption, I don't agree with that either.
If it's dangerous for Joe Public to hold a phone will driving within the limit, then it must be doubly so for someone on an emergency call.
I perhaps didn't make myself clear. Personal radios are attahced to body armour or belt, and one hand is used to do the PTT bit, NOT held to the head like a mobile. I normally use the "handsfree" stalk anyway, but as I have to listen to three different radio channels at once, I sometimes have to use my personal set when driving - but not on an emergency run though.
'King Deadly said:
I've got to ask this question, as the change in law doesn't seem to have made any difference.
A couple of weeks back I saw two different drivers making calls with their mobiles. Both were driving competently. I have no particular problem with a driver doing this if they are driving correctly.
How about the rest of you?
Hmm.. I can't agree, sorry.
They may appear to have been driving competently, but driving while holding a phone must reduce your ability to deal with any hazards that appear. Or the next roundabout.
And that's without considering the distraction of the conversation (which no matter what anyone says is not the same as a conversation with a passenger.)
As for emergency services having exemption, I don't agree with that either.
If it's dangerous for Joe Public to hold a phone while driving within the limit, then it must be doubly so for someone on an emergency call.
>> Edited by 'King Deadly on Saturday 27th November 16:42
Well that philosophy by definition must apply to any other"distraction" such as setting fire to a small round stick filled with poisonous weed and filling the cabin with smoke prohibiting vision, and in the process holding a glowing, naked electrical element that can burn skin to the bone and set fire to upholstery.
Or fiddling with your latest Satnav device, or trying to find Radio 2 under a flyover when your signal strength is fading.
I mean the list is endless, are you going to make them all illegal, or would it not be preferable to teach people how to drive properly?
IOLAIRE said:
Well that philosophy by definition must apply to any other"distraction" such as setting fire to a small round stick filled with poisonous weed and filling the cabin with smoke prohibiting vision, and in the process holding a glowing, naked electrical element that can burn skin to the bone and set fire to upholstery.
Oh, I agree. I'd ban smoking at the wheel, too.
IOLAIRE said:
Or fiddling with your latest Satnav device, or trying to find Radio 2 under a flyover when your signal strength is fading.
You can choose when to do these things. You don't do it on the approach to a junction, or traffic lights or a roundabout. I never saw anyone put down their mobile to get safely round a roundabout. (I have, however, been nearly driven off the road by some idiot who cut across two lanes of traffic and back while struggling to negotiate the roundabout with one hand).
IOLAIRE said:
I mean the list is endless, are you going to make them all illegal, or would it not be preferable to teach people how to drive properly?
You can't drive properly with a mobile in your hand.
That's why it's illegal.
>> Edited by 'King Deadly on Saturday 27th November 17:07
TripleS said:
You can't drive properly with a mobile in your hand.
As a generalisation that is demonstrably untrue, so I will assume you are speaking for yourself KD.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
By "drive" I don't mean "maintain a steady speed on a straight road".
I mean negotiating bends & roundabouts. Changing gear. You know? Driving!
If you're holding a 'phone in one hand you can't change gear without taking both hands of the wheel. Do you seriously call that "driving properly"?
I used to do a 25 mile commute by motorcycle each day round the A41/M25/M4 and through Uxbridge. When filtering through slow traffic, the people who were weaving all over their lane (even at <10mph) were INVARIABLY on the blower...
Most people will only fiddle with the satnav or radio for a few seconds, while they'll be on the phone for hours.
'King Deadly said:
'King Deadly said:
You can't drive properly with a mobile in your hand.
As a generalisation that is demonstrably untrue, so I will assume you are speaking for yourself KD.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
By "drive" I don't mean "maintain a steady speed on a straight road".
I mean negotiating bends & roundabouts. Changing gear. You know? Driving!
If you're holding a 'phone in one hand you can't change gear without taking both hands of the wheel. Do you seriously call that "driving properly"?
I've explained some of this previously, but once again, speaking for myself:
1. I confine my use of a mobile phone in the car to situations where safe driving is not jeopardised.
2. This does not mean it needs to be limited to constant speed driving on straight roads.
3. At moderate speeds bends can be negotiated quite smoothly and safely using single handed steering.
4. The same applies to roundabouts unless they are of extremely small diameter.
5. I use my left hand for holding the phone, which means that gear changing can be accomplished, merely by interrupting the conversation for a second or two.
With respect KD I have no means of knowing what your driving capabilities amount to, so I will refrain from suggesting they are inadequate. Perhaps you will extend the same consideration to me.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
TripleS said:
You can't drive properly with a mobile in your hand.
As a generalisation that is demonstrably untrue, so I will assume you are speaking for yourself KD.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
And lo, the hysterical law put in place has bred a whole new breed of human - the "THATS ILLEGAL SO ITS DANGEROUS" clan
A numpty is a numpty - a mobile phone just makess them more f
kwitted. The fact they put a law in place to raise the finances... sorry... make driving safer makes no difference to this.TripleS said:
5. I use my left hand for holding the phone, which means that gear changing can be accomplished, merely by interrupting the conversation for a second or two.
I can imagine the conversation in stop start traffic:-
"Hi Bob it's............
TS here. How............
are you doing...........
mate? So how's that............
report coming on?"
TripleS said:
With respect KD I have no means of knowing what your driving capabilities amount to, so I will refrain from suggesting they are inadequate. Perhaps you will extend the same consideration to me.
No worries, TS! My driving's like yours (and 97% of the driving population). "Well above average"
Tell you what. How about a compromise?
Under some circumstances driving while on the 'phone can be completely safe. In others it's downright dangerous.
OK?
TripleS said:
TripleS said:
I suppose we should brace ourselves for a lengthy and colourful contribution from our friends in the north west territory again, but we won't worry about that. Behind all the smokescreen I'm not sure they really understand these things,
Dave.
Keh?
>> Edited by 8Pack on Saturday 27th November 01:28
Best wishes all,
Dave - part time stirrer.
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