Mobiles 'worse than drink driving'
Discussion
Well. If there was a blanket ban on mobile phones in cars I, for one, would be livid. I have a hands free-kit. My next car will have a "plumbed-in" system - hands free, of course.
BUT. I will definitely exercise judgement in when I use the facility nonetheless.
I UNDERSTAND (read post below) that any distraction from driving is an issue and I should preferably pull-over to make the call and certainly slow down. I accept this and take it into account in my driving.
Those who cannot or will not do this can be prosecuted for careless driving I hope.
But lets not have some specific law for mobile phones. Lets have this apply to all distractions. (As is already provided for in law and in the Highway Code).
As mentioned by others below:
*Screaming kids.
Sorry, Mum. Pull over calm 'em down. Set off again.
*Max Poweer Stereo.
Sorry kids. You can't hear what's going on - turn it down so you can hear other drivers' engine/horns etc.
*Coffee.
Drink it in the layby and set off AFTER FFS.
*Sat Nav
Fiddle with the damn thing whilst stationary. Afterwards it'll talk to you!
Do we really need legislation about these specifically?
Sorry about the rant but this stuff really does p*** me off. And as for the BB Bleedin C. I'll get me coat.
BUT. I will definitely exercise judgement in when I use the facility nonetheless.
I UNDERSTAND (read post below) that any distraction from driving is an issue and I should preferably pull-over to make the call and certainly slow down. I accept this and take it into account in my driving.
Those who cannot or will not do this can be prosecuted for careless driving I hope.
But lets not have some specific law for mobile phones. Lets have this apply to all distractions. (As is already provided for in law and in the Highway Code).
As mentioned by others below:
*Screaming kids.
Sorry, Mum. Pull over calm 'em down. Set off again.
*Max Poweer Stereo.
Sorry kids. You can't hear what's going on - turn it down so you can hear other drivers' engine/horns etc.
*Coffee.
Drink it in the layby and set off AFTER FFS.
*Sat Nav
Fiddle with the damn thing whilst stationary. Afterwards it'll talk to you!
Do we really need legislation about these specifically?
Sorry about the rant but this stuff really does p*** me off. And as for the BB Bleedin C. I'll get me coat.
I am against the banning mobile thing, it just smacks of nanny state to me. What will they do next? Ban talking to passengers? What about listening to the radio? changing staion/cd/cassette? Putting on makeup? Lighting a fag (with a match!), getting a sweat from the glove box.
The list just goes on, and all reduce the attention we pay to the road ahead.
You can't just single out one thing and ignore the rest. I oppose any suggestion of a ban, I'd rather live with the risk and have a nanny state thank you very much.
What we need is better education and a lot more common sense. Banning things gives neither.
And for the record, my phone is either connected to hands free and the calls are short, or its out of the way and it does not get answered.
The list just goes on, and all reduce the attention we pay to the road ahead.
You can't just single out one thing and ignore the rest. I oppose any suggestion of a ban, I'd rather live with the risk and have a nanny state thank you very much.
What we need is better education and a lot more common sense. Banning things gives neither.
And for the record, my phone is either connected to hands free and the calls are short, or its out of the way and it does not get answered.
quote:
I think the useage of mobile phones comes down to being sensible. I dont think there are many people (certaintly on here anyway) who would drive along in the pouring rain, little visibility etc etc on the phone as its just plain silly.
I wouldn't cos I'd spill my beer on my burger.
I wouldn't cos I'd spill my beer on my burger.
or worse still if you dropped and damaged your mobile, whilst entertaining yourself, listening to a premium rate number....whilst drinking beer and eating a burger.....
surely car makers could make it all operable with your feet, to allow hands to be used for reading the paper or something...
Bennno
What a stupid headline..
The actual research compared mobile use, with drivers ONLY JUST over the drink drive limit (80mg) and included handsfree use.
BUT the headline implies more dangerous than drunk drivers. (ie someone that is really inebriated)
Common sense must prefail before something else gets banned.
How on earth can a quick (hands free) call home to I'm stuck in traffic (or whatever).
Be more dangerous than
talking to a passenger,
Having 1 or more kids in the back.
loud music
SMOKING
etc
So what would the research have shown, if compared with any of the above. (god forbid, what next legistration banning, arguing with your wife about map reading, this has got to be worse than using a phone, or 2 toddlers having a tantrum in the back)
I generally do turn the damm thing off in the car to get some peace...
BUT this is just another example of uninformed statistics/research is used by the government to get at the public.
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Friday 22 March 16:27
The actual research compared mobile use, with drivers ONLY JUST over the drink drive limit (80mg) and included handsfree use.
BUT the headline implies more dangerous than drunk drivers. (ie someone that is really inebriated)
Common sense must prefail before something else gets banned.
How on earth can a quick (hands free) call home to I'm stuck in traffic (or whatever).
Be more dangerous than
talking to a passenger,
Having 1 or more kids in the back.
loud music
SMOKING
etc
So what would the research have shown, if compared with any of the above. (god forbid, what next legistration banning, arguing with your wife about map reading, this has got to be worse than using a phone, or 2 toddlers having a tantrum in the back)
I generally do turn the damm thing off in the car to get some peace...
BUT this is just another example of uninformed statistics/research is used by the government to get at the public.
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Friday 22 March 16:27
quote:I don't let my wife have the map anymore, since the day I equated having her looking after the map with letting Dennis Nilsen look after your kids..
So what would the research have shown, if compared with any of the above. (god forbid, what next legistration banning, arguing with your wife about map reading, this has got to be worse than using a phone
I have a full hands free kit, which I always use, and have speed dials for all my regular contacts. As a GP, I am frequently phoned for visits whilst in the car. Am I to be punished for that. There are situiations where exceptions need to be made. The phone does distract, even on hands free, but it is so annoying to see people weaving about as they cradle their mobile to their ear. I usually hoot long and hard at them. It amazes me why companies who rely on mobiles, don't proveide their reps etc. with a hands-free kit. They're not expensive, after all.
quote:
I'm sure any court would happily prosecute a motorist for driving without due care and attention for driving whilst on the phone. Why do we need a specific law for it. Sufficient legislation exists, but there are insuffience officers of the law to enforce it. Law enforcement in this country is a joke.
The problem with enforcing this offence is that most officers drive about single crewed. When a message is received via the personal radio they have to answer, in other words they are doing the exact same thing as the guy on the mobile, hence the reason you see few prosecutions. Ideal defence 'But your honour, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the officer using one hand to speak into his radio'
quote:
It amazes me why companies who rely on mobiles, don't proveide their reps etc. with a hands-free kit. They're not expensive, after all.
I provide mobiles to my sales reps. However, no hands free as we have a company policy against using the phone in the car because of distraction issues. When my employees are out there driving, I want them to concentrate on the road, not on the contract sitting on the seat next to them that they just signed.
Get a nice break on my "non owned auto" business insurance contract because of this policy too... ErnestM
Everyone dead right that if common sense prevailed we wouldn't need laws ... but common sense isn't prevailing.
In this case I'd happily swap my freedom to do something stupid, something I don't choose to do anyway, with the chance of being protected from the morons.
It seems to me that the abuse of mobile phones is a severe problem. From my unscientific observations a very large percentage of truly shite driving round town is due to phone use, e.g. not indicating coz they don't have a hand free, lurching wildly as they can't turn the steering far enough, not stopping at junctions coz they can't change gear and just slip the clutch like mad instead.
Allow hands-free kits to be used, but ban the use of handheld phones for drivers. Seems a small price to pay. Also educate the morons that talking on a handsfree kit still distracts you.
Talking on a bloody phone is not a fundamental right. However, your duty of care towards other road users is a fundamental obligation.
In this case I'd happily swap my freedom to do something stupid, something I don't choose to do anyway, with the chance of being protected from the morons.
It seems to me that the abuse of mobile phones is a severe problem. From my unscientific observations a very large percentage of truly shite driving round town is due to phone use, e.g. not indicating coz they don't have a hand free, lurching wildly as they can't turn the steering far enough, not stopping at junctions coz they can't change gear and just slip the clutch like mad instead.
Allow hands-free kits to be used, but ban the use of handheld phones for drivers. Seems a small price to pay. Also educate the morons that talking on a handsfree kit still distracts you.
Talking on a bloody phone is not a fundamental right. However, your duty of care towards other road users is a fundamental obligation.
I agree with all that's been said, but at the end of the day it's all nanny state/blame culture bollox.
And it's true, rules are being made for those incapable of making sensible choices for themselves - it's quite sad.
Where do you draw the line with distractions? what about:
Driving with a headache....
Driving, bursting for a pee....
Driving with a bad head cold...
Driving and hearing you football teams just won the FA cup on the radio....
It's all down to the UK dumbing down. We are getting almost as bad as the US.
And it's true, rules are being made for those incapable of making sensible choices for themselves - it's quite sad.
Where do you draw the line with distractions? what about:
Driving with a headache....
Driving, bursting for a pee....
Driving with a bad head cold...
Driving and hearing you football teams just won the FA cup on the radio....
It's all down to the UK dumbing down. We are getting almost as bad as the US.
quote:
Where do you draw the line with distractions? what about:
Driving, bursting for a pee....
I actually got let off 120mph or so by unmarked plod cause I was indeed absolutely busting for a pee, and the actions I was making whilst he wanted me outta the car was probably entertaining for him......
I don't think that people should be allowed to use a Mobile Phone (hands free is ok IMHO) cause as stated by Carzee (I think) some of the worse driving I have seen (Excluding School mum run) is by people with only one hand on the wheel, head cocked, and chatting - None of these things seem to indicate the due care to the road.
The hands free is still not great, but does equate to talking to a passenger etc IMHO.
A hands free kit isn't fantastic
Nubbin
Just a devils advocate view ...how many "mobile" calls re - patients are actually that important that need that instant response.
In business rather than the Real world mobiles increase chatter rather than quality comms ....I would be surprised if it was different even with GP's ...
PS GP's mobile .....try getting past the receptionist
Just a devils advocate view ...how many "mobile" calls re - patients are actually that important that need that instant response.
In business rather than the Real world mobiles increase chatter rather than quality comms ....I would be surprised if it was different even with GP's ...
PS GP's mobile .....try getting past the receptionist
quote:
I did a pretty serious piece of research on driver distraction a few years ago. By far and away the most difficult to deal with concentration buster, was recieving a BJ while driving at 70 mph over Barton Bridge. (Nah only kidding I was doing 90 really)
Snap! Way back, when I was a lot less responsible.. the bird did this for me. I think it was possibly more distracting to any trucks that we passed.... oops! ahh, things we do.
I saw this in the cinema (it was on before the film, I didn't go to watch the ad =)):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPy-QSz8Nkk
I'm surprised it's not been ban, ironically the marketing team who made this must have been drunk...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPy-QSz8Nkk
I'm surprised it's not been ban, ironically the marketing team who made this must have been drunk...
lostandfound said:
I saw this in the cinema (it was on before the film, I didn't go to watch the ad =)):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPy-QSz8Nkk
I'm surprised it's not been ban, ironically the marketing team who made this must have been drunk...
You just won the prize for the longest thread resurrection of the week. Replying to a 15 year old thread - good going.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPy-QSz8Nkk
I'm surprised it's not been ban, ironically the marketing team who made this must have been drunk...
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