Phone - lesson learnt
Discussion
Edited for the internet police who replied 
Hi guys
Just thought I'd share an experience my mate had from Friday that hopefully might inspire other people to do the same thing.
He regards himself as a good driver.
However on occasion (sometimes regularly) he uses his mobile when driving (both text, calls) even though he knows its completely stupid and reckless (especially txt).
On Friday he was driving in a fairly spaced out long line of traffic down a flowing A road. He grabbed the phone to read the txt. Went round a left hander at around 40mph still reading the 'important' message glanced up to see all the rest of the traffic had stopped due to two large lorries passing over a bridge up ahead
On the anchors managed to get the van pulled up about 5ft from the car in front and luckily the person behind didn't rear end him.
Every single journey he has made since and every journey he will ever make in the future - the phone is going in the back of the van.
The bizarre thing is especially with people of our generation and younger is the vast majority of us would never ever even consider drinking and driving. But a lot of us (whether you admit it or not) do use our phones when behind the wheel. I can honestly say I'd be a better driver after a bottle of wine than being 100% sober but txting on a phone.
If he hadn't glanced up and if the car in front was a motorcycle or cyclist he would be in prison right now, with blood on his hands and his life, his family's life and some other poor bugger's family's life completely ruined.
Having just passed my motorcycle test (I think every car driver should have to do this) I'm even more aware of how important it is to be on the ball when driving.
Hi guys
Just thought I'd share an experience my mate had from Friday that hopefully might inspire other people to do the same thing.
He regards himself as a good driver.
However on occasion (sometimes regularly) he uses his mobile when driving (both text, calls) even though he knows its completely stupid and reckless (especially txt).
On Friday he was driving in a fairly spaced out long line of traffic down a flowing A road. He grabbed the phone to read the txt. Went round a left hander at around 40mph still reading the 'important' message glanced up to see all the rest of the traffic had stopped due to two large lorries passing over a bridge up ahead
On the anchors managed to get the van pulled up about 5ft from the car in front and luckily the person behind didn't rear end him. Every single journey he has made since and every journey he will ever make in the future - the phone is going in the back of the van.
The bizarre thing is especially with people of our generation and younger is the vast majority of us would never ever even consider drinking and driving. But a lot of us (whether you admit it or not) do use our phones when behind the wheel. I can honestly say I'd be a better driver after a bottle of wine than being 100% sober but txting on a phone.
If he hadn't glanced up and if the car in front was a motorcycle or cyclist he would be in prison right now, with blood on his hands and his life, his family's life and some other poor bugger's family's life completely ruined.
Having just passed my motorcycle test (I think every car driver should have to do this) I'm even more aware of how important it is to be on the ball when driving.
Edited by leeson660 on Sunday 8th March 22:17
Well done for seeing the error of your ways. My lead to connect my phone is in the glove box, so every journey the phone goes in there. Can't get at while driving even though I never feel the urge and I don't take calls even though I have a bluetooth kit fitted. Having done some research even hands free the phone is a big distraction...
For my first thirty-five years of driving, it was impossibly costly for the average Joe to have a phone in the car. Those who simply had to be contactable had properly fitted radios to communicate. No-one suffered unduly.
Given the number of accidents that phones are implicated in, I would support any legislation to force manufacturers to make vehicles a sort of Faraday cage, inside of which a phone would simply not work. The only option then would be to stop and get out of the car to make a call or text. Yes - I can see many of the problems with doing this, but the principle remains.
Given the number of accidents that phones are implicated in, I would support any legislation to force manufacturers to make vehicles a sort of Faraday cage, inside of which a phone would simply not work. The only option then would be to stop and get out of the car to make a call or text. Yes - I can see many of the problems with doing this, but the principle remains.
littleredrooster said:
For my first thirty-five years of driving, it was impossibly costly for the average Joe to have a phone in the car. Those who simply had to be contactable had properly fitted radios to communicate. No-one suffered unduly.
Given the number of accidents that phones are implicated in, I would support any legislation to force manufacturers to make vehicles a sort of Faraday cage, inside of which a phone would simply not work. The only option then would be to stop and get out of the car to make a call or text. Yes - I can see many of the problems with doing this, but the principle remains.
I can see many powerfully built directors objecting to this from the rear seat of their chauffeur driven limo!Given the number of accidents that phones are implicated in, I would support any legislation to force manufacturers to make vehicles a sort of Faraday cage, inside of which a phone would simply not work. The only option then would be to stop and get out of the car to make a call or text. Yes - I can see many of the problems with doing this, but the principle remains.
littleredrooster said:
For my first thirty-five years of driving, it was impossibly costly for the average Joe to have a phone in the car. Those who simply had to be contactable had properly fitted radios to communicate. No-one suffered unduly.
Given the number of accidents that phones are implicated in, I would support any legislation to force manufacturers to make vehicles a sort of Faraday cage, inside of which a phone would simply not work. The only option then would be to stop and get out of the car to make a call or text. Yes - I can see many of the problems with doing this, but the principle remains.
I agree.Given the number of accidents that phones are implicated in, I would support any legislation to force manufacturers to make vehicles a sort of Faraday cage, inside of which a phone would simply not work. The only option then would be to stop and get out of the car to make a call or text. Yes - I can see many of the problems with doing this, but the principle remains.
Handsfree or not, makes little difference, it would appear.
Far from scientific, but Mythbusters actually had a program which showed that a drunk driver was a better driver than one on a phone.
BrownBottle said:
I felt as though I was sitting next to Ted Striker reading that, waaaaaay too much information.
Thanks for the heads up but rather than throw it in the boot I'll stick with my hands free and ignore texts.
Haha that really made me laugh Thanks for the heads up but rather than throw it in the boot I'll stick with my hands free and ignore texts.
On reflection I feel my message may have been lost in all the irrelevant details about my life
Edited version:
Txt on phone, nearly crashed, smashed phone, dont txt and drive kids.
That any better?
My truck (Mercedes) has a pretty nifty hands free/blue tooth kit built into it, hands free calls are easy due to buttons on the steering wheel. For me talking on the phone is no different to talking to a passenger.
Best bit are text messages, when I receive it a voice says 'text message received, read it or ignore' I just say out loud 'read it' and the truck reads it out for me. I never have to touch the actual phone.
Now admittedly I drive a year old Mercedes Arocs, their kit is good, and I think that is the real way to stop people using a phone while driving, its to have good kit built into the vehicle when it leaves the factory, no optional extra, have it built in as standard.
Best bit are text messages, when I receive it a voice says 'text message received, read it or ignore' I just say out loud 'read it' and the truck reads it out for me. I never have to touch the actual phone.
Now admittedly I drive a year old Mercedes Arocs, their kit is good, and I think that is the real way to stop people using a phone while driving, its to have good kit built into the vehicle when it leaves the factory, no optional extra, have it built in as standard.
FreeLitres said:
leeson660 said:
Hi guys
I'd regard myself as a good driver... on occasion (sometimes regularly) I use my mobile when driving (both text, calls)
I'd regard myself as a good driver... on occasion (sometimes regularly) I use my mobile when driving (both text, calls)
It's a bit like saying you are a model citizen, but you on occasion (regularly) like to mug old ladies.
leeson660 said:
BrownBottle said:
I felt as though I was sitting next to Ted Striker reading that, waaaaaay too much information.
Thanks for the heads up but rather than throw it in the boot I'll stick with my hands free and ignore texts.
Haha that really made me laugh Thanks for the heads up but rather than throw it in the boot I'll stick with my hands free and ignore texts.
On reflection I feel my message may have been lost in all the irrelevant details about my life
Edited version:
Txt on phone, nearly crashed, smashed phone, dont txt and drive kids.
That any better?
sonarbell said:
I'm pretty sure that using today's modern technology the "Send/Receive Text" function on a mobile phone could be disabled when traveling at a speed greater than say 5mph ?
You haven't thought that through have you?Phones would be useless on a bus, train, rear of a car or even a moving walkway!
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