Texting while driving - this mornings survey
Discussion
Not a rant, so don't be expecting lots of swear word or giving me a score 
Riding my bike over the M62 this morning to Leeds I had some bloke in a ghastly awful big daft kiddie-fiddler MPV thing veer towards me - he wasn't paying attention as he was on the phone. However his hand gestures indicated that it was me that was the w
ker in this situation. Oh well.
This got me thinking. When the traffic started getting heavier and slower I decided to have a little (not very scientific) survey - being on a bike means you can have a quick glance into cars easier and I really was surprised. If the car was driven by a young (ie. appeared to be in 20s) female of the cars I saw I reckon there was probably a greater than 50% chance that they would be (or appeared to be) texting
I would say I saw over 20 in about 10 miles. Never saw an older woman doing it and only one bloke. The funny thing is the way they'd notice they'd been clocked and sort of slide the phone out of sight 
Best one was one lass who was managing to text and eat a banana at the same time - that'll be this much vaunted female "multitasking" thing then 
I'm not overly concerned by people on the phone if they are being sensible (unlike "daddy cool" above) but texting - ffs - is it a behaviour that is so ingrained in the culture of young females nowadays that they simply can't stop themselves? Is it that important to them? I suppose I'm answering my own question.
Riding my bike over the M62 this morning to Leeds I had some bloke in a ghastly awful big daft kiddie-fiddler MPV thing veer towards me - he wasn't paying attention as he was on the phone. However his hand gestures indicated that it was me that was the w
ker in this situation. Oh well.This got me thinking. When the traffic started getting heavier and slower I decided to have a little (not very scientific) survey - being on a bike means you can have a quick glance into cars easier and I really was surprised. If the car was driven by a young (ie. appeared to be in 20s) female of the cars I saw I reckon there was probably a greater than 50% chance that they would be (or appeared to be) texting
I would say I saw over 20 in about 10 miles. Never saw an older woman doing it and only one bloke. The funny thing is the way they'd notice they'd been clocked and sort of slide the phone out of sight Best one was one lass who was managing to text and eat a banana at the same time - that'll be this much vaunted female "multitasking" thing then I'm not overly concerned by people on the phone if they are being sensible (unlike "daddy cool" above) but texting - ffs - is it a behaviour that is so ingrained in the culture of young females nowadays that they simply can't stop themselves? Is it that important to them? I suppose I'm answering my own question.
tezzer said:
Texting, reading "important " papers on the steering wheel are all things that give me the sts !
I suggest a 30 day ban, for a 1st offence if caught.
Not long enough. Take their license away and make them retake their test. Its the only way they'll learn. Penalties for some driving offences are far too lenient and this is one of them. Having a driving license is a privilage that only those who treat a 1.5 ton machine moving at 70mph with the respect it deserves should have. It is not a right.ts !I suggest a 30 day ban, for a 1st offence if caught.
Is there a way of blocking moby signals to cars? Just thinking when my daughter is older it would be good if she3 couldn't use her phone in-car but suppose that presents its own problems.
I notice this a lot these days, social lives are nowhere near as important as being alive.
Instead of these stupid 'think bike' campaigns why not have a shot at this growing nightmare?
I notice this a lot these days, social lives are nowhere near as important as being alive.
Instead of these stupid 'think bike' campaigns why not have a shot at this growing nightmare?
Texting is just as common as using the phone facility without hands free - not enough enforcement out there on the roads to seriously change peoples attitudes
+1 for the 30 day ban (no points or fine - just hand over licence do not pass go and get re-introduced to the pleasures of public transport and shank's pony)
+1 for the 30 day ban (no points or fine - just hand over licence do not pass go and get re-introduced to the pleasures of public transport and shank's pony)
I had some bint in her early 20's driving with her elbow whilst holding her phone in her right hand and changing gear with her left hand driving towards me the other day on a small side road, i did not give way because of her actions and she tried to pull into the side so i could pass she ended up crashing into a parked car. i pulled over and explained to her why she crashed in a kinda sarcastic way, she ended up calling the police saying i made her crash, when i explained to them why she crashed they charged her with dangerous driving, and driving with undue care and attention, man she was pissed.
I have noticed similar.
Young women spend a lot of their time sending text messages wherever they are. It's not as if they're asking their mates something important like whether or not they can borrow a 10tonne press or a long breaker bar either
Unfortunately, when I am forced to use the motorway network for work, there are always quite a number of delays caused by collisions (note that I didn't use the word "accidents").
On a motorway where everybody is travelling in the same direction and visibility is good there should be very few collisions between vehicles so I can only assume that people are diving too close or not paying enough attention.
Young women spend a lot of their time sending text messages wherever they are. It's not as if they're asking their mates something important like whether or not they can borrow a 10tonne press or a long breaker bar either
Unfortunately, when I am forced to use the motorway network for work, there are always quite a number of delays caused by collisions (note that I didn't use the word "accidents").
On a motorway where everybody is travelling in the same direction and visibility is good there should be very few collisions between vehicles so I can only assume that people are diving too close or not paying enough attention.
By far the worst case I've witnessed was outside a school at kicking out time. The road outside the school is on a steep hill with school being on the left and cars parked on the right. So I'm heading up the hill (with other cars following me) when this VW Bora comes barrelling down the hill at quite a pace. My thoughts "Oh st, she's not stopping!" Kids on the pavement to my left and cars behind so my only option was to stop dead and luckily she managed to squeeze through the gap between me and a parked car by no more than a few inches.
In case your wondering yes it was a young blonde girl and she was texting on her phone during the whole incident. More worryingly though she seemed totally oblivious to what had just happened. I dread to think what would have happened if a child had stepped out in front of her. Texting while driving is one thing, but doing it outside a school at 3.30 in the afternoon is just plain stupid. It's thanks to idiots like this I'm installing a dash camera in my car - being a young male it would've been all my fault if she'd hit me.
[/mini rant mode off]
t, she's not stopping!" Kids on the pavement to my left and cars behind so my only option was to stop dead and luckily she managed to squeeze through the gap between me and a parked car by no more than a few inches. In case your wondering yes it was a young blonde girl and she was texting on her phone during the whole incident. More worryingly though she seemed totally oblivious to what had just happened. I dread to think what would have happened if a child had stepped out in front of her. Texting while driving is one thing, but doing it outside a school at 3.30 in the afternoon is just plain stupid. It's thanks to idiots like this I'm installing a dash camera in my car - being a young male it would've been all my fault if she'd hit me.
[/mini rant mode off]
The Crack Fox said:
I'll stick my head above the parapet...
Many years ago I was a Salesrep. Before the 'handsfree only' law was introduced. I did 60k miles a year for 2 years in a manual car. I was nearly always on the phone when driving. I never had an accident, or points, or any mishap at all. Neither did my colleagues in the same role. The reason being that I carefully chose the time and place to make my calls (cruising on M'way for example) where it would have the minimum distraction on driving.
I wish the 'driving without due care and attention' law was better Policed (with real cops, not more cameras), instead of specific new laws banning something that (rightly or wrongly) half the country seemingly does anyway.
you bad bad boy, Many years ago I was a Salesrep. Before the 'handsfree only' law was introduced. I did 60k miles a year for 2 years in a manual car. I was nearly always on the phone when driving. I never had an accident, or points, or any mishap at all. Neither did my colleagues in the same role. The reason being that I carefully chose the time and place to make my calls (cruising on M'way for example) where it would have the minimum distraction on driving.
I wish the 'driving without due care and attention' law was better Policed (with real cops, not more cameras), instead of specific new laws banning something that (rightly or wrongly) half the country seemingly does anyway.
- Dons fireproof suit*
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