I'm going to get thumped soon ....
Discussion
Using a mobile is distracting, and there have been numerous fatal accidents caused by a driver using a phone while driving. The ban is a good thing.
What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
calibrax said:
Using a mobile is distracting, and there have been numerous fatal accidents caused by a driver using a phone while driving. The ban is a good thing.
What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
Remember where cars came with carphones too?What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
Then talking on the phone whilst driving became illegal and now you don't get cars with carphones anymore..
calibrax said:
Using a mobile is distracting, and there have been numerous fatal accidents caused by a driver using a phone while driving. The ban is a good thing.
What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
While there's no specific law, if you were judged to not be in proper control while smoking I believe you could be prosecuted for it, as with eating, adjusting the stereo etc.What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
IMHO the worst aspect of people talking on phones is the mental distraction, rather than the physical. Worse than having a conversation with a passenger.
It's not just the issue of people not having their hands on the wheel, it's the lack of concentration. You only have to observe people on the street, in restaurants or holding up the queues in the supermarket to see it. They broadcast their conversations in loud voices, often personal stuff like bank details and health issues, oblivious to everyone and everything around them. They're going to be just the same in their cars.
I was doing a fair speed down the motorway the other day and a guy passed me doing the best part of 100mph whilst using his phone. He was straying across the white lines and nearly hit the front of my car. I daresay he will boast that he uses his phone and doesn't have accidents but it was only because I was concentrating and took evasive action that he didn't that day. He'll never know that. Another day I was about to cross the road and had to jump back as a guy on his phone went sailing through all the red lights totally oblivious.
I don't involve myself in telling off every person I see breaking the law and I don't see it as my job to police the roads. However, I do think that if more people stand up to inappropriate behaviour, those who think they can do what they want and never mind anyone else may have to think again and be forced to show some consideration.
I was doing a fair speed down the motorway the other day and a guy passed me doing the best part of 100mph whilst using his phone. He was straying across the white lines and nearly hit the front of my car. I daresay he will boast that he uses his phone and doesn't have accidents but it was only because I was concentrating and took evasive action that he didn't that day. He'll never know that. Another day I was about to cross the road and had to jump back as a guy on his phone went sailing through all the red lights totally oblivious.
I don't involve myself in telling off every person I see breaking the law and I don't see it as my job to police the roads. However, I do think that if more people stand up to inappropriate behaviour, those who think they can do what they want and never mind anyone else may have to think again and be forced to show some consideration.
A good long blast of the horn. Especially effective if they're coming the other way with their window down.
They've no idea what's going on around them and are driving on autopilot so that magnifies the "f
k, what's going on!?" effect.
Could even make them think twice about being on the phone, but that's probably wishful thinking....
They've no idea what's going on around them and are driving on autopilot so that magnifies the "f
k, what's going on!?" effect. Could even make them think twice about being on the phone, but that's probably wishful thinking....
tyranical said:
Remember where cars came with carphones too?
Then talking on the phone whilst driving became illegal and now you don't get cars with carphones anymore..
Yes you do, Bluetooth car phones that use your phone wirelessly. Even Fiestas have them these days. There really is no excuse for using a hand held phone anymore. Then talking on the phone whilst driving became illegal and now you don't get cars with carphones anymore..
calibrax said:
What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
There's always one. 
Do you have proof it's not safe?Edited by Maximum bobs on Tuesday 2nd August 02:38
Maximum bobs said:
calibrax said:
Using a mobile is distracting, and there have been numerous fatal accidents caused by a driver using a phone while driving. The ban is a good thing.
What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
There's always one. What surprises me is that there's no ban on smoking while driving. Car manufacturers even provide a lighter and an ashtray! So the law makes it seem like it's safe to be holding something your hands which is actually ON FIRE and is filling your car with smoke!
Do you have proof it's not safe?I think if you want to do something to help road safety, start a campaign to get car manufacturers to sort out the absolutely piss-poor rearward visibility that seems to be all the rage these days.
I was in a hired Insignia a while back and, compared to my elderly 5 series, the blind spots were bloody enormous.
And the current Mondeo isn't much better.
Massive fat A-pillars don't help, either.
I was in a hired Insignia a while back and, compared to my elderly 5 series, the blind spots were bloody enormous.
And the current Mondeo isn't much better.
Massive fat A-pillars don't help, either.
Blakewater said:
It's not just the issue of people not having their hands on the wheel, it's the lack of concentration. You only have to observe people on the street, in restaurants or holding up the queues in the supermarket to see it. They broadcast their conversations in loud voices, often personal stuff like bank details and health issues, oblivious to everyone and everything around them. They're going to be just the same in their cars.
I agree, which is why I said it is an ill thought out law - it doesn't actually address the proper issue. It would be like making it illegal to drive if you smelled of drink, but actually being drunk is ok, so long as you don't stink of it.Of course, I'm aware of the problems caused by the 'well where do you stop then?' of more thorough legislation...Personally I thought the existing dwdc and careless/dangerous were enough legislation to enforce people driving like idiots on a phone and coupled with decent education most problems could be avoided, but obviously not. See my "somebody must do something!!!" post earlier in the thread
Why do we have this discussion every few months?
Why is it illegal for me to use a phone when stationary in a traffic jam, in neutral, handbrake on and can see stationary cars for 1/2 mile ahead? What if I pull into a Tesco car park, do I have to turn the engine off, remove the key, open the door or get out of the car to be officially not driving so I can use my phone without killing 87 children?
Why can I still use a two-way radio while driving? The law has en explicit exclusion in it that states 'other than a two-way radio'. Is this because the majority of two-way users are the Police? I'm still waiting for someone to explain why that clause is there.
It's a 'lowest common denominator law'. We had a perfectly good law for prosecuting people who used a phone dangerously while driving. This is a law that makes criminals out of normal people for carrying out day-to-day activities in a safe way.
Why is it illegal for me to use a phone when stationary in a traffic jam, in neutral, handbrake on and can see stationary cars for 1/2 mile ahead? What if I pull into a Tesco car park, do I have to turn the engine off, remove the key, open the door or get out of the car to be officially not driving so I can use my phone without killing 87 children?
Why can I still use a two-way radio while driving? The law has en explicit exclusion in it that states 'other than a two-way radio'. Is this because the majority of two-way users are the Police? I'm still waiting for someone to explain why that clause is there.
It's a 'lowest common denominator law'. We had a perfectly good law for prosecuting people who used a phone dangerously while driving. This is a law that makes criminals out of normal people for carrying out day-to-day activities in a safe way.
GestapoWatch said:
Its not just a blind anger because the law says it naughty - I genuinely come across people seemingly in a trance on their phones all the time.
My favourite story is of the guy who shot across the front of me on a roundabout causing me to brake/horn/goatee etc. only to run into the back of somebody at the traffic lights just around a corner. The look of visible shock and horror on his face at what Karma just did is as vivid today as it was then. Tosser.
I agree. I have seen a lot of moronic driving associated with mobile phone use. Some people might be able to drive and talk safely, but it's clear the majority cannot, and road laws are introduced to deal with the lowest common denominator.My favourite story is of the guy who shot across the front of me on a roundabout causing me to brake/horn/goatee etc. only to run into the back of somebody at the traffic lights just around a corner. The look of visible shock and horror on his face at what Karma just did is as vivid today as it was then. Tosser.
I used to get mildly annoyed by people on their mobile phone when driving.
Then I nearly got run over by some tw4t in a 5 series, he hit my arm with his wing mirror while talking on his mobile (I was walking from my car to work sometime last year)... Didn't stop or even slow down.
Now I see such drivers as a threat to the general public.
Then I nearly got run over by some tw4t in a 5 series, he hit my arm with his wing mirror while talking on his mobile (I was walking from my car to work sometime last year)... Didn't stop or even slow down.
Now I see such drivers as a threat to the general public.
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