Using a mobile phone whilst driving.

[Nigel Worc's]

I realise this is an emotive topic, with people having strong views on both sides , (I'm in the it is a "stupid law" camp).

Given all the H&S crap on this subject, and even I can't deny that texting or web surfing is a bad idea whilst driving, I just don't accept phone use is, then the latest Ford advert seems a little odd, where they are advertising the fact that the latest generation Fords will read your text messages out to you.

I'd imagine the next step will be some sort of voice recognition system so you can send one back, all without touching the phone of course.

Any thoughts anyone ?

[X5TUU]

Spot on, and Siri use for messaging like this integrated into your dash is only a small step away:

https://www.apple.com/uk/ios/carplay/

There is also an android version but can't recall it's official title.

Basically they're just a more user friendly (for while in car) version of your connected handset so the car side is just the interface

[Vipers]

My view is that the gizmo Ford have fitted is just another distraction to the driver.

Driving these days on heavily congested roads, most driving too close, plus the general bunch of idiots we encounter, a driver needs 100% concentration on his driving! not some a text being read out! is a text so important! and do Ford really think it will sell more cars.

Just my view.

[Nigel Worc's]

My tom tom sat nav will read them, if you want it too, but it doesn't yet have any voice activated way of sending them.

[slipstream 1985]

I have driven and used the phone a few years ago but now i dont. I realised i do really pay much less attention to driving when on the phone. nothing happened when i was driving on the phone and im sure my driving ability was still at a high level while on the phone but it was not as good as it could have been. Just because you get away with something doesnt mean there was no risk. If something happens an accident when you are not on the phone as long as you are driving to your full potential no matter waht level that is to me it will be classed as an accident. If something happened while you are on the phone it doesnt matter what driving ability you have you leave yourself open to prosicution.

i am one of the massive anti health and safety people out there but this time the government is right and it should be an offense to use while driving.


Look what happened to frank wrathell. I used to race against him and he is a genuinly a great guy and a tallented driver. There were other factors involved in that but he was on the phone and that overruled any other factors that may have contributed to the death of someone.

[Colonial]

Vipers said:

My view is that the gizmo Ford have fitted is just another distraction to the driver.

Driving these days on heavily congested roads, most driving too close, plus the general bunch of idiots we encounter, a driver needs 100% concentration on his driving! not some a text being read out! is a text so important! and do Ford really think it will sell more cars.

Just my view.

Yep. Ban passengers as well.

[Vipers]

Colonial said:

Yep. Ban passengers as well.

I am with you on that, especially those who,yap yap yap consistently about absolute shiite.

[Nigel Worc's]

slipstream 1985 said:

I have driven and used the phone a few years ago but now i dont. I realised i do really pay much less attention to driving when on the phone. nothing happened when i was driving on the phone and im sure my driving ability was still at a high level while on the phone but it was not as good as it could have been. Just because you get away with something doesnt mean there was no risk. If something happens an accident when you are not on the phone as long as you are driving to your full potential no matter waht level that is to me it will be classed as an accident. If something happened while you are on the phone it doesnt matter what driving ability you have you leave yourself open to prosicution.

i am one of the massive anti health and safety people out there but this time the government is right and it should be an offense to use while driving.


Look what happened to frank wrathell. I used to race against him and he is a genuinly a great guy and a tallented driver. There were other factors involved in that but he was on the phone and that overruled any other factors that may have contributed to the death of someone.

I think in time, and given how attitudes seem to be going, your thoughts will become the rules, as it were.

I agree it must be "some" distraction, no matter how good we think we are, but I'm not convinced it is the satan of modern road use it is advertised as.

Until they outlaw mobile phone use whilst driving, then I will continue to use mine legally, people just expect it now (to be able to contact you almost 24/7), I tried your take, and I actually lost work because of it.

[TheInternet]

1960s Nigel Worc's said:

I think in time, and given how attitudes seem to be going, your thoughts will become the rules, as it were.

I agree driving under the influence of alcohol must be "some" distraction, no matter how good we think we are, but I'm not convinced it is the satan of modern road use it is advertised as.

Until they outlaw drinking and driving, then I will continue to enjoy mine legally...

[Nigel Worc's]

TheInternet said:

1960s Nigel Worc's said:

I think in time, and given how attitudes seem to be going, your thoughts will become the rules, as it were.

I agree driving under the influence of alcohol must be "some" distraction, no matter how good we think we are, but I'm not convinced it is the satan of modern road use it is advertised as.

Until they outlaw drinking and driving, then I will continue to enjoy mine legally...

Are you some sort of tt ?

Ford have included a text reading interface, not a bar !

[kambites]

I think the law is a bit daft - it's not holding a phone that's dangerous - I can drive quite happily with one hand. If anything is dangerous it's the distraction of talking to someone who has no empathy with what's going on around the car. IMO using a phone while driving should either be entirely banned or entirely legal; the hands free thing is a complete irrelevance.

Personally I'll never use a phone while driving at all because I can't do it safely. Personally, I'd far more of a menace while talking on a hands free kit than I am at the legal alcohol limit.

[herewego]

I think read out texts would be much better than conversations. Short and sweet. "meeting cancelled return to base" or "I've left you for your brother, your stuff is on the lawn"

[TheInternet]

2014 Nigel Worc's said:

Are you some sort of tt ?

Ford have included a text reading interface, not a bar !

You have become very irritable in your old age. Merely pointing out the parallels between mobile phone use now and drink driving in the 60s, however no doubt if Ford could have offered a 'hands-free' bitter dispenser in the early 60s it would have been an extremely popular Popular.

[Nigel Worc's]

TheInternet said:

2014 Nigel Worc's said:

Are you some sort of tt ?

Ford have included a text reading interface, not a bar !

You have become very irritable in your old age. Merely pointing out the parallels between mobile phone use now and drink driving in the 60s, however no doubt if Ford could have offered a 'hands-free' bitter dispenser in the early 60s it would have been an extremely popular Popular.

I am actually a 1960s model

[fangio]

Nigel Worc's said:

I am actually a 1960s model

That makes me very surprised at your attitude. Too much of a hurry to pull over.....

[Nigel Worc's]

fangio said:

Nigel Worc's said:

I am actually a 1960s model

That makes me very surprised at your attitude. Too much of a hurry to pull over.....

You've lost me, are you suggesting that being born in the 1960's should make me more acceptable of this H&S bullst ?

I was trained in the late 70's/early 80's, with crown immunity from it, where we were expected to take responsibility for ourselves, and I've spent most of my working life as an engineer, where due to what I'm working on/with, I'm exempt from most of it.

I'm obviously not dead, and so far at least I haven't been injured, being sensible and careful isn't rocket science.

It would appear Ford feel the same way regarding mobile phones.

[kev b]

Every few days I encounter someone driving badly whilst using a hand held phone.

Veering into the opposite lane, not noticing lights changing etc., phone users are a menace, young women being the worst offenders. In traffic queues if you are in a high vehicle you can often see phones on laps whilst drivers text.

[g3org3y]

TheInternet said:

2014 Nigel Worc's said:

Are you some sort of tt ?

Ford have included a text reading interface, not a bar !

You have become very irritable in your old age. Merely pointing out the parallels between mobile phone use now and drink driving in the 60s, however no doubt if Ford could have offered a 'hands-free' bitter dispenser in the early 60s it would have been Popular Plus.

EFA

[robinessex]

I'm confused. Use, that's even looking at the screen of your mobile, is an offence. Inputting enough data into a satnav to equal writing war and peace is ok. So if I load up a satnav app for my mobile, can I use it as a satnav, and not be breaking the law?

[Nigel Worc's]

robinessex said:

I'm confused. Use, that's even looking at the screen of your mobile, is an offence. Inputting enough data into a satnav to equal writing war and peace is ok. So if I load up a satnav app for my mobile, can I use it as a satnav, and not be breaking the law?

What you write is sensible, the law on mobile phone use is not, and I suspect that whatever you use if for, the fact that it is a mobile phone, and as soon as you interact with it whilst driving somebody somewhere will suffer the most horrid death, will mean no you can't, as it is still a mobile phone, regardless of what you use it for.