Texting pillion rider
Author
Discussion

McGraw

Original Poster:

232 posts

173 months

Wednesday 7th February 2018
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Being tailgated whilst overtaking in the outside lane after being closed at what I would guess at around 100mph wasn't exactly relaxing.

Then I saw the pillion was texting.

Am I being soft to think that it's pretty dangerous and what would the police do if they saw it happening (at legal speeds)?

LosingGrip

8,873 posts

189 months

Wednesday 7th February 2018
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What would the police do? Nothing. Its not illegal.

Contract Killer

4,509 posts

213 months

Wednesday 7th February 2018
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Might be dangerous for the Iphone, but dont see how it could effect anyone else?

revvingit

444 posts

110 months

Wednesday 7th February 2018
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It's stupid but as far as I'm aware not illegal as the law treats it as the same as a passenger in a car. After all the rider of the motorbike is the one guiding where it's going and whose responsibility is to ensure both are safe, police might advise you not do it on a quiet day though.

catso

16,464 posts

297 months

Wednesday 7th February 2018
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Pillion is a passenger, what impact does them texting have on the rider's control?

AFAIK it's not illegal for the pillion to have been drinking either? even though this might affect the rider's ability to control the bike.

largelunchbox

610 posts

231 months

Wednesday 7th February 2018
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The pillion has a responsibility to lean in to Corners and help keep the bike stable so I would say although not illegal, not a good idea.

mikeiow

8,174 posts

160 months

Wednesday 7th February 2018
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I did a run back in the 80's with a buddy on the back: he had a Walkman with 2 headphone sockets, we both had them in our ears and at one point he decided to change the cassette as we went along, probs about 60-70mph. Nutter!

But no, a ludicrous idea: I suspect there is indeed no law broken, but.....

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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What sort of bike? I'd be concerned if some one did it on the back of my old ZX10, perched up on the back of a sport bike, today on my Harley with a sissy bar, I'd have no problem, with my pillion texting And the last thing you want is a passenger that leans, bike pillions just keep there position relative to the bike, unless they are very skilled and totally know the ridder.

McGraw

Original Poster:

232 posts

173 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
quotequote all
What about if they let go of the phone whilst overtaking and it hits a car windscreen?

I know it wouldn't break but it might cause a momentary loss of control in the car driver.


HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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Nothing. Not illegal.

Drawweight

3,599 posts

146 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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It's not unknown for pillions (my wife included) to doze off on the back of a bike.

I can't see anything wrong with texting.

My wife would probably play games on her iPhone if i'd let her

Sycamore

2,203 posts

148 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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McGraw said:
What about if they let go of the phone whilst overtaking and it hits a car windscreen?

I know it wouldn't break but it might cause a momentary loss of control in the car driver.
What if what if what if...
Just seems to be clutching at straws.

What if a kid strapped into a car seat chucks his action man out the window, hitting a car windscreen, causing a momentary loss of control for the car driver?

I'd suspect the police wouldn't give a st if they saw a pillion passenger texting, because it's not illegal. Can't say I've ever seen someone doing it myself however.


MYOB

5,126 posts

168 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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I doubt there's a specific law against it but I imagine police will find a way to charge both rider and pillion for dangerous riding given that pillions do have an effect on the stability of the bike.

Willy Nilly

12,511 posts

197 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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I've seen a man riding a Fireblade texting while riding and saw him do it a few times too.

Ed/L152

494 posts

267 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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largelunchbox said:
The pillion has a responsibility to lean in to Corners
Really? On the few times I've ridden pillion I've just stayed still. When the bikes leans you lean with it of course, but you stay sat square on the seat.

Edited by Ed/L152 on Thursday 8th February 10:17

creampuff

6,511 posts

173 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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Meh. I've used a phone while sat on the back of a bike many times. The HC does not have anything to say about it.

Infact in developing countries with almost no road safety standards or laws, I've used a phone while riding the bike. That's the sort of loose cannon that I am.

CypSIdders

1,278 posts

184 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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largelunchbox said:
The pillion has a responsibility to lean in to Corners and help keep the bike stable so I would say although not illegal, not a good idea.
You know nothing about motorcycles!

Byker28i

92,004 posts

247 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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Ed/L152 said:
largelunchbox said:
The pillion has a responsibility to lean in to Corners
Really? On the few times I've ridden pillion I've just stayed still. When the bikes leans you lean with it of course, but you stay sat square on the seat.
LargeLunchBox has never ridden a bike with a Pillion. You don't want them leaning as rider, you need to control the weight shift as rider, the last thing you need mid corner is for the pillion to move their weight.

Pillion has to sit rock steady

Red 4

10,744 posts

217 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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How the hell do you text whilst wearing gloves and a helmet ?

Pillion said - "nnhgrfdsauuythknm6754lkjgn".

Must be a member on here, surely.

TimmyMallett

3,197 posts

142 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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He or she was probably texting the rider who had Siri set up to read messages into Bluetooth helmet Comms.


'Go faster!'

Srsly tho, what's the risk? He or she might drop the phone?


I've made phone calls being pillion. Hands free as it's easy to jam the phone up the side of the lid. You need to as wind noise is a bummer and you need hands free to act as a windbreak.

Edited by TimmyMallett on Thursday 8th February 12:13