What can be done about the use of mobile phones?
Discussion
telecat said:
Riley Blue said:
NikBartlett said:
JNW1 said:
And just to add another (controversial!) dimension to the debate see the article below. Personally I've always been of the view it's the talking on a mobile phone that's the real distraction when driving (as opposed to physically holding the handset) and it seems others are of the same opinion; texting and e-mailing while driving are obviously on another level again.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49320473
How on earth do they propose to enforce this ? Yet another example of a government kneejerk solution to a problem without any thought of how it could be practically implemented.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49320473
They can't enforce the current law so how are they going to catch people seemingly talking to themselves in their cars ? I regularly walk our dog down the main road through our village and you can spot the people texting a mile off. They are normally well under the speed limit, but drifting over the centre line towards the oncoming traffic, without a care in the world. I have had a couple of near misses with texters, one sailed through a zebra crossing I was halfway across. I saw them coming and could see they were staring at their lap, so I held back slightly and sure enough, they just sailed past. Another car mounted the pavement in front of me, as the driver was too busy texting his Mum to ask what was for tea to actually look where he was going. I regularly see people in convertibles with the top down and their phone stuck to their ear, talking loudly about something meaningless. Obviously, far too busy and important for rules of the road to apply to them.
OP - There is a simple 'win' for this..... simply offer a small reward to the public to send in video evidence of offenders using phones whilst driving.
Eyes everywhere instead of eyes only when a uniform is visible.
Many cars now have dashcams, many cars have passengers with phones - simply send the evidence in for the offender to be prosecuted.
Eyes everywhere instead of eyes only when a uniform is visible.
Many cars now have dashcams, many cars have passengers with phones - simply send the evidence in for the offender to be prosecuted.
V10leptoquark said:
OP - There is a simple 'win' for this..... simply offer a small reward to the public to send in video evidence of offenders using phones whilst driving.
Eyes everywhere instead of eyes only when a uniform is visible.
Many cars now have dashcams, many cars have passengers with phones - simply send the evidence in for the offender to be prosecuted.
Or why not set up a network of retired folk to stand at the side of the roads taking photographs of people... Eyes everywhere instead of eyes only when a uniform is visible.
Many cars now have dashcams, many cars have passengers with phones - simply send the evidence in for the offender to be prosecuted.
V8RX7 said:
Remind me how much have accident stats increased since mobiles came out ?
The answer is - they haven't
I'm not saying they don't cause a few accidents but it is no where near the hysteria that surrounds them.
OP - on a daily basis how many accidents do you see on your commute being surrounded by all these phone users ?
Do you think it is right that those users are increasing mine, and others' risk when out on the road?The answer is - they haven't
I'm not saying they don't cause a few accidents but it is no where near the hysteria that surrounds them.
OP - on a daily basis how many accidents do you see on your commute being surrounded by all these phone users ?
You seem to be implying that lack of accidents suggests there is no risk of accident.
FWIW I can think of one accident that I've passed in four years of this particular commute.
Perhaps I'll do some Googling on the way home tonight to get some more concrete stats..
Incidentally all these suggestions to disable phones in vehicles will cause an issue for folks using satnav apps with the phone just sat in a holder, or Apple Carplay / Android Auto, where, at least in our case, the phone is plugged in via USB port and then tucked away out of sight in a cubbyhole.
Not to mention, albeit not supporting this bit of stupidity in any way, where the car 'reads text messages out' and enables a dictated reply? No means of enforcement anyway.
Which does bring me to a long standing issue, it's all about the actual circumstances. Nobody, I hope, is going to defend the idiots FaceInstaTweetApping on the move, not even for one second. Yet the parent delayed in traffic getting to pick kids up from school, stationary in a jam, aren't they likely to be safer after being able to arrange someone to look after the kids and thus not be under pressure to get there as quickly as possible? Yet according to legislation and application they're just as guilty as white van man driving with phone in one hand, BigMac in the other, large fries wedged somewhere else and the giant coke balanced all while trying to light a Park Drive and simultaneously turning down Radio 1.
Not to mention, albeit not supporting this bit of stupidity in any way, where the car 'reads text messages out' and enables a dictated reply? No means of enforcement anyway.
Which does bring me to a long standing issue, it's all about the actual circumstances. Nobody, I hope, is going to defend the idiots FaceInstaTweetApping on the move, not even for one second. Yet the parent delayed in traffic getting to pick kids up from school, stationary in a jam, aren't they likely to be safer after being able to arrange someone to look after the kids and thus not be under pressure to get there as quickly as possible? Yet according to legislation and application they're just as guilty as white van man driving with phone in one hand, BigMac in the other, large fries wedged somewhere else and the giant coke balanced all while trying to light a Park Drive and simultaneously turning down Radio 1.
It's an endemic behaviour / culture that will be hard to stop.
I commute every few weeks into London then walk to our London offce ~25 mins.
The number of people walking and txting or typing is unbelievable. This morning, in that 1 * 25 minute walk (which is mainly down back streets) I saw one person almost run over as they crossed the road whilst txting and didn't look, and 3 people tried to walk through me as they had head down and happily txting away (they got a bit of a shock when I deliberately didn't step out of the way).
I still find most people cannot resist the ping of a notification from their phone. It's a form of madness !
I commute every few weeks into London then walk to our London offce ~25 mins.
The number of people walking and txting or typing is unbelievable. This morning, in that 1 * 25 minute walk (which is mainly down back streets) I saw one person almost run over as they crossed the road whilst txting and didn't look, and 3 people tried to walk through me as they had head down and happily txting away (they got a bit of a shock when I deliberately didn't step out of the way).
I still find most people cannot resist the ping of a notification from their phone. It's a form of madness !
As I see it, there are far more distractions to driving nowadays, as cars have more entertainment on them, are quieter, we are more insular and less involved as we were 30 years ago in cars, so it is a case of where do we draw the line.
What I mean is, driving a caterham with no roof nor radio perhaps maximises the concentration and attention paid to the road, when compared to a toprange Roller, which will come with far more distractions and toys and wafts along like it is not moving.
So as most of us drive things more akin to a roller than a Caterham, we need to ensure we pay attention when driving. IMHO, nothing should be off limits, but drivers should be educated as far as possible as to the seemingly negligible lapses that can cost dear, and there should be more Traf Pol out and about catching people who are "driving without due care"
Now that may not happen, who knows, but to try to make a Binary argument that doing X is OK, but doing Y is not, I cannot see working nor being fair.
FWIW, I think the laws regarding mobiles now, haven't had a terribly positive impact. It has not stopped all the usual suspects using them, but many use the hands free now, agreed. But as we have moved away from voice calling to texts and whatsapp etc, the law has in some ways made things worse, as phones are now hidden on laps whilst texting, (looking down) not held up on steering wheel where you can at least see "something".
And the current law is ineffective as it is not able to be enforced enough, due to not enough traf pol etc.
It is a very difficult argument, but the potential cost to businesses employers / employees time etc, vs what may "save" a few lives a year has to be weighed up. Otherwise we would never take to the roads to do anything as others have pointed out, 5 poor sods a day go out to work and never come home again being killed on the roads. And the majority are not being distracted by phones etc, it would seem.
On balance, keep it as it is now, and get more trafpol / cameras to enforce it, I reckon.
What I mean is, driving a caterham with no roof nor radio perhaps maximises the concentration and attention paid to the road, when compared to a toprange Roller, which will come with far more distractions and toys and wafts along like it is not moving.
So as most of us drive things more akin to a roller than a Caterham, we need to ensure we pay attention when driving. IMHO, nothing should be off limits, but drivers should be educated as far as possible as to the seemingly negligible lapses that can cost dear, and there should be more Traf Pol out and about catching people who are "driving without due care"
Now that may not happen, who knows, but to try to make a Binary argument that doing X is OK, but doing Y is not, I cannot see working nor being fair.
FWIW, I think the laws regarding mobiles now, haven't had a terribly positive impact. It has not stopped all the usual suspects using them, but many use the hands free now, agreed. But as we have moved away from voice calling to texts and whatsapp etc, the law has in some ways made things worse, as phones are now hidden on laps whilst texting, (looking down) not held up on steering wheel where you can at least see "something".
And the current law is ineffective as it is not able to be enforced enough, due to not enough traf pol etc.
It is a very difficult argument, but the potential cost to businesses employers / employees time etc, vs what may "save" a few lives a year has to be weighed up. Otherwise we would never take to the roads to do anything as others have pointed out, 5 poor sods a day go out to work and never come home again being killed on the roads. And the majority are not being distracted by phones etc, it would seem.
On balance, keep it as it is now, and get more trafpol / cameras to enforce it, I reckon.
My garage overlooks our local road. When I'm in he garage on my bike trainer, I'm facing said road. I can spend anywhere from half an hour to an hour on my trainer.
The amount of motorists who drive past glued to phones or with them on their laps is staggering.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people around who cannot bare to be without their phone for five minutes. This obviously stretches to driving. Some simply cannot take a car journey without checking their phone.
Really annoys me.
The amount of motorists who drive past glued to phones or with them on their laps is staggering.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people around who cannot bare to be without their phone for five minutes. This obviously stretches to driving. Some simply cannot take a car journey without checking their phone.
Really annoys me.
It's not just drivers either. Pedestrians are a menace when on their phones. I see them every day wandering down the High Street outside my office, eyes glued to their phones, bumping into other people and wandering out into the road. Women seem worse than men in this respect. I often wonder how they would have survived 30 years ago before so called "smart phones" were widely available. And that same High Street has numerous drivers driving through with phones to their ears or in their hands. It seems people cannot be without the stupid phones. ( I have an iPhone, but rarely take it out during the weekend - to me it is a work tool , so after work I have no interest in the thing out of office hours. ) We all managed very well years ago before mobile phones were available. I really don't see that anybody is so important that they have to be in contact 24 hours a day. Mobile phones? the curse of today!
TheFungle said:
Do you think it is right that those users are increasing mine, and others' risk when out on the road?
FWIW I can think of one accident that I've passed in four years of this particular commute.
So you're going to ban attractive women walking on the pavement (particularly in summer) too ?FWIW I can think of one accident that I've passed in four years of this particular commute.
One in 4 years... that's a huge problem.
Yes I agree phones are one of the many distractions but they simply are not the problem they are made out to be because otherwise our accident stats would have massively increased - and they haven't
I find modern touchscreen car stereos (or infotainment centres) a disaster - I have to look at them, whilst I used to be able to turn a knob or push a button without needing to see what I'm doing
The Surveyor said:
Or why not set up a network of retired folk to stand at the side of the roads taking photographs of people...
Your thread is this way.... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...I would also include a random rolly eye smiley, but like yours it would be a bit whoosh parrot by itself without explanation.
V10leptoquark said:
The Surveyor said:
Or why not set up a network of retired folk to stand at the side of the roads taking photographs of people...
Your thread is this way.... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...I would also include a random rolly eye smiley, but like yours it would be a bit whoosh parrot by itself without explanation.
I think many people may have a slight issue with that!
Jimmy Saville was telling us to clunk click in 1983- yet all these years later, I see a huge amount of drivers not bothering. Not a single thing will stop people using their phones behind the wheel..... maybe an instant 12 month ban, £5000 fine, seizure of phone, might make people think twice ??? I doubt it somehow.
Zirconia said:
V8RX7 said:
Remind me how much have accident stats increased since mobiles came out ?
The answer is - they haven't
I'm not saying they don't cause a few accidents but it is no where near the hysteria that surrounds them.
OP - on a daily basis how many accidents do you see on your commute being surrounded by all these phone users ?
Lost count of the numbers I avoided over the years, speed varying, lanes varying, speeding up when I try yo pass them, the list goes on. Probably the stats are low as others miss the idiots. A dynamic system on the road.The answer is - they haven't
I'm not saying they don't cause a few accidents but it is no where near the hysteria that surrounds them.
OP - on a daily basis how many accidents do you see on your commute being surrounded by all these phone users ?
Those drivers I refused to T bone, or rear end or side swipe, they can thank me and many others later. As if they would have noticed.
heads on the phone are oblivious, it's people around them having to take avoiding action who are acutely aware of the problem.To the person who said looking at the phone whilst waiting at traffic lights should be OK - it's annoying waiting for the car in front to realise that the lights have changed and people have moved off, and it's immensely annoying when every 3rd or 4th car in the queue creates the same delay.
Countdown said:
That's the thing - the dheads on the phone are oblivious, it's people around them having to take avoiding action who are acutely aware of the problem.
To the person who said looking at the phone whilst waiting at traffic lights should be OK - it's annoying waiting for the car in front to realise that the lights have changed and people have moved off, and it's immensely annoying when every 3rd or 4th car in the queue creates the same delay.
Was behind someone the other day in their car who was playing with a phone. They completely failed to notice the traffic moving not once, but twice in a row. Each time required a toot of the horn to get them to wake up and move. They simply didn't give a sheads on the phone are oblivious, it's people around them having to take avoiding action who are acutely aware of the problem.To the person who said looking at the phone whilst waiting at traffic lights should be OK - it's annoying waiting for the car in front to realise that the lights have changed and people have moved off, and it's immensely annoying when every 3rd or 4th car in the queue creates the same delay.
t.The Surveyor said:
V10leptoquark said:
The Surveyor said:
Or why not set up a network of retired folk to stand at the side of the roads taking photographs of people...
Your thread is this way.... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...I would also include a random rolly eye smiley, but like yours it would be a bit whoosh parrot by itself without explanation.
I think many people may have a slight issue with that!
heads too?Countdown said:
The Surveyor said:
V10leptoquark said:
The Surveyor said:
Or why not set up a network of retired folk to stand at the side of the roads taking photographs of people...
Your thread is this way.... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...I would also include a random rolly eye smiley, but like yours it would be a bit whoosh parrot by itself without explanation.
I think many people may have a slight issue with that!
heads too?V10leptoquark said:
OP - There is a simple 'win' for this..... simply offer a small reward to the public to send in video evidence of offenders using phones whilst driving.
Eyes everywhere instead of eyes only when a uniform is visible.
Many cars now have dashcams, many cars have passengers with phones - simply send the evidence in for the offender to be prosecuted.
Eyes everywhere instead of eyes only when a uniform is visible.
Many cars now have dashcams, many cars have passengers with phones - simply send the evidence in for the offender to be prosecuted.
The Surveyor said:
V10leptoquark said:
The Surveyor said:
Or why not set up a network of retired folk to stand at the side of the roads taking photographs of people...
Your thread is this way.... https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...I would also include a random rolly eye smiley, but like yours it would be a bit whoosh parrot by itself without explanation.
I think many people may have a slight issue with that!
I've not contributed to the other thread yet you seem to think I've had a previous disagreement with you on it.
Anyways, you say many people may have a slight issue with your connertation to 1930 Germany, sure they will..... may be they will then get off their phone when driving !
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