When will people learn NOT to use mobile phones whilst driving!

[foureyes]

I was walking to skool to pick up child yesterday afternoon, late too, so there was already sprogs around, and I had to stop at a side road as a van driver was reversing out of the junction into heavy traffic... On his mobile phone, steering and fettling his gears with one hand...

As I walked passed the front of him I glared and mouthed 'get off your f****** phone you t***'. Didn't make any difference but made me feel better!

[HotVRs]

because a large proportion of the population is fundametally stupid.

Eccleshill, spot on. The woes of the UK expressed in 10 words

[Buster]

Who's worst for this? Men or women?

I reckon first time you get caught, 6 points and £300 fine. Second time you get caught, 3 month ban and £500 fine. If you can't afford it, tough, and if getting banned means you lose your job, boohoo, it's your own stupid fault! We managed before mobile phones, so don't know why we need to use them whilst driving!

[Schern]

Really ****es me off too. Biggest culprits seem to be school run mums, and as has been pointed out previously they're all in Touaregs and Q7's which surely means they have the cash to get a handsfree kit fitted if one isn't standard spec already!

The other thing that ****es me off is when you're talking to someone and they get a call and answer it interrupting your conversation. Surely common courtesy dictates that you should finish talking to the person firs before answering your phone? If I have a call whilst talking to someone I cut the caller off! They'll call back if its important or I'll call them back when I'm ready!

[redbaron]

I agree Skinnyman, When oilburnt has crashed into redbaron's family and killed himself and the family, they might just realise the sense in not using a mobile, comments like that only come from idiots, they too probably don't indicate as its too much hassle!

you self righteous pr1ck.

[jonnycatbiscuit]

send me their registration numbers and I will send them ALL tickets in the post. Mwa Ha Ha Ha HAAAAAAAA

[Shifty]

As a user of mobile phones since they became truly mobile I'm amazed at this thread.

Answer me these questions oh perfect people!

How many deaths or accidents are PURELY down to the use of a mobile phone without the aid of a hands free kit. Official statistics.

Why is using a mobile phone with a car kit or earpiece ANY different to using one without?

Why yet again have you folks succumbed to simple government brainwashing? Speed kills, mobile phones are bad, range rovers are bad etc? Can you not see these are just excuses for making the treasury rich?

Who are the real idiots?

[daveyonthemove]

As a user of mobile phones since they became truly mobile I'm amazed at this thread.

Answer me these questions oh perfect people!

How many deaths or accidents are PURELY down to the use of a mobile phone without the aid of a hands free kit. Official statistics.

Why is using a mobile phone with a car kit or earpiece ANY different to using one without?

Why yet again have you folks succumbed to simple government brainwashing? Speed kills, mobile phones are bad, range rovers are bad etc? Can you not see these are just excuses for making the treasury rich?

Who are the real idiots?

If you've never sat behind or drove towards a vehicle where the driver is texting/holding a mobile to their ear, and witnessed them swerving/driving slower than normal, then i can understand your comment, but if like most of us you have witnessed this 'safe driving' and still think its acceptable, then the real idiot is plain and simply YOU!

I've witnessed parked cars being bumped by people on their phone, and that could easily have been someone i love.

I've also had some close misses from other road users paying little attention because their call is more important. Regardless of wether a handsfree kit makes it safer or not, the fact that BOTH hands are available to change gear and drive similtanously, it can only ever be slightly safer than having one hand to change gear and drive with.

The distraction of the conversation isn't the real issue, its the lack of control brought on by doing everything one handed.

[oilburninnut]

If you've never sat behind or drove towards a vehicle where the driver is texting/holding a mobile to their ear, and witnessed them swerving/driving slower than normal, then i can understand your comment, but if like most of us you have witnessed this 'safe driving' and still think its acceptable, then the real idiot is plain and simply YOU!

I've witnessed parked cars being bumped by people on their phone, and that could easily have been someone i love.

I've also had some close misses from other road users paying little attention because their call is more important. Regardless of wether a handsfree kit makes it safer or not, the fact that BOTH hands are available to change gear and drive similtanously, it can only ever be slightly safer than having one hand to change gear and drive with.

The distraction of the conversation isn't the real issue, its the lack of control brought on by doing everything one handed.

as hgv driver i spend 90% of my time with only one hand on the wheel(16 speed gearbox) your arguement just doesn't stand up,just because your limited skills don't allow yo to do other things while you drive,don't assume that everyone is incapable,i personally canhold a conversation on the phone,make and drink a brew,write down new instructions and watch battlestar galactica on the laptop(tho not all at the same time,i'm not THAT good) and on occasions when its dark and i'm quite bored i can even knock a quick one off the wrist,now thats what i call multi tasking

[daveyonthemove]

as hgv driver i spend 90% of my time with only one hand on the wheel(16 speed gearbox) your arguement just doesn't stand up,just because your limited skills don't allow yo to do other things while you drive,don't assume that everyone is incapable,i personally canhold a conversation on the phone,make and drink a brew,write down new instructions and watch battlestar galactica on the laptop(tho not all at the same time,i'm not THAT good) and on occasions when its dark and i'm quite bored i can even knock a quick one off the wrist,now thats what i call multi tasking

You're not the only one with a HGV licence

But changing gear is DRIVING! Taking a call with one hand then taking your 'driving' hand off the wheel to change gear (leaving no hands on the wheel) is careless and dangerous, and ILLEGAL regardless of how good you think you are at driving.

The standard wasn't set for the best users of the road, it is set for the worst, and the rest of us have to conform to these guidelines.

There are people on the road who are excellent at driving and have very good handling cars, so should we raise the speed on B roads to 90 safe in the knowledge that they can manage the corners, but the idiots who think they can can come around the corner and smash into your HGV while your too bust driving no handed while changing gear/taking a call to swerve out of the way....?

Its there to protect the innocent as much as it is to punish the offenders.

[Glen Mansbridge]

I once spotted a young woman driving on the A14 holding a mobile phone in one hand, bottle of coke in the other and negotiating a slip road.

I just assume now that if a driver is driving erratically or doing 40 MPH on a 70 MPH dual carriageway they are on a mobile phone or texting.

Where's the traffic cops when you need them?

[Shifty]

If you've never sat behind or drove towards a vehicle where the driver is texting/holding a mobile to their ear, and witnessed them swerving/driving slower than normal, then i can understand your comment, but if like most of us you have witnessed this 'safe driving' and still think its acceptable, then the real idiot is plain and simply YOU!

I've witnessed parked cars being bumped by people on their phone, and that could easily have been someone i love.

I've also had some close misses from other road users paying little attention because their call is more important. Regardless of wether a handsfree kit makes it safer or not, the fact that BOTH hands are available to change gear and drive similtanously, it can only ever be slightly safer than having one hand to change gear and drive with.

The distraction of the conversation isn't the real issue, its the lack of control brought on by doing everything one handed.

To be perfectly honest, I have witnessed alot more bad driving from people who aren't on the phone. There will always be bad drivers, on the phone, off the phone, chatting to passengers, or who just lack basic driving skills. It just seems to me that most of the population have been brainwashed into thinking that using a handheld phone is more dangerous than having a conversation with a a passenger. You dont need your hands to brake, you can steer perfectly well with one hand.... I will never be of the opinion that driving and using a phone is dangerous. In the couple of million miles i have done whilst having to use them i have never come close to having an accident because of it. I put it to you that the muppets you guys see almost hitting things or driving poorly are probably bad drivers to start with.

[jonnycatbiscuit]

To be honest, it doesn't really matter WHAT you think... it's the law; and if you break it, you pay the consequences. Having nearly been run off the road by a female who was looking at her phone and dialling whilst joining the motorway, I can say, hand on heart, that if she had NOT been using her phone then she wouldn't have swerved into my lane and caused me to take evasive action with my son in the car.

It doesn't really matter anyway - get caught using a hand held mobile phone (and that includes texting and holding it in front of you whilst on speakerphone) and I WILL give you a ticket and some points. End of story.

[daveyonthemove]

I agree that they are probably bad drivers to start with, but who will stand in court and defend them as being good drivers and capable of using a phone when driving if they are involved in an accident?

If the law bans ALL drivers from using a phone while on the road, then the bad ones are less risk and the good ones have less bad drivers to worry about...?

If you think we have it bad, take a trip to Norway. I've just got back from there, and your daily swill and spit of listerene mouthwash will put you over the drink drive limit and land you a fine of a months wages and possible imprisonment. Driving on the phone is a much bigger fine, and these people have a far more advanced driving test than we will ever have, so we could argue that they are safer drivers to begin with?

[Shifty]

To be honest, it doesn't really matter WHAT you think... it's the law; and if you break it, you pay the consequences. Having nearly been run off the road by a female who was looking at her phone and dialling whilst joining the motorway, I can say, hand on heart, that if she had NOT been using her phone then she wouldn't have swerved into my lane and caused me to take evasive action with my son in the car.

It doesn't really matter anyway - get caught using a hand held mobile phone (and that includes texting and holding it in front of you whilst on speakerphone) and I WILL give you a ticket and some points. End of story.

I'm perfectly aware it is the law thanks, I didn't suggest it wasn't, or shouldn't be. It's a discussion forum, I was simply discussing my view on the matter.

As for giving out tickets, I imagine you were speaking generally as i don't frequent your area and I also have an earpiece. Come to think of it, I don't see many actual real Policemen on my travels. All too busy solving serious crime i imagine

[Shifty]

I agree that they are probably bad drivers to start with, but who will stand in court and defend them as being good drivers and capable of using a phone when driving if they are involved in an accident?

If the law bans ALL drivers from using a phone while on the road, then the bad ones are less risk and the good ones have less bad drivers to worry about...?

If you think we have it bad, take a trip to Norway. I've just got back from there, and your daily swill and spit of listerene mouthwash will put you over the drink drive limit and land you a fine of a months wages and possible imprisonment. Driving on the phone is a much bigger fine, and these people have a far more advanced driving test than we will ever have, so we could argue that they are safer drivers to begin with?

Zero tolerence on drink driving is an excellent idea. That way people won't be tempted to "just have another" because they won't be allowed even one.

[daveyonthemove]

Zero tolerence on drink driving is an excellent idea. That way people won't be tempted to "just have another" because they won't be allowed even one.

Definatly.

If i'm in the car or know i'm using it the next day i won't drink a drop of alchohol. I've seen mates lose their licence from driving with last nights beer in the system.

I remember having a serious accident in 2003 and when i was breathalised i was crapping myself despite not having had a drink for 2 days. I passed of course, but its not something i'd like to risk failing.

[jonnycatbiscuit]

I'm perfectly aware it is the law thanks, I didn't suggest it wasn't, or shouldn't be. It's a discussion forum, I was simply discussing my view on the matter.

As for giving out tickets, I imagine you were speaking generally as i don't frequent your area and I also have an earpiece. Come to think of it, I don't see many actual real Policemen on my travels. All too busy solving serious crime i imagine

Don't have serious crime where I work - which is why I have such a thing about mobile phones, and yes, I was speaking generally. There is also a new law in the pipeline - causing death whilst driving and using a mobile phone - it happens!:(

[Jon TDI]

How many deaths or accidents are PURELY down to the use of a mobile phone without the aid of a hands free kit.

Recently, in the Newcastle area, a young lady knocked down & killed an elderly woman who was crossing the road.

This young lady happened to be texting on her phone at the time.

There's been a few more, just in this area.

The local police have set camera vans to check on such behaviour:-

BBC NEWS | England | Police safe driving campaign

[Hairy Chris]

How many deaths or accidents are PURELY down to the use of a mobile phone without the aid of a hands free kit.

Here's another one Mother of student killed by 'texting driver' issues warning - Northampton Chronicle and Echo

[moley]

I saw this news item yesterday and then today on the M40 from J16 to J9 I spotted at least six drivers using their phones. The ones that really stuck in my mind was the Range Rover driver who was in the outside lane at over 80mph and the rental van driver who for about five miles drove in the middle lane with the nearside indicators on, when I passed him he was on the phone. As we approached the exit to Warwick services there was a wide load travelling slowly with an escort using lanes one and two, as the traffic slowed to move to the outside lane I put the hazards on and van driver shot into the outside lane and had to brake hard.... still on the phone.

BBC NEWS | England | Texting death crash woman jailed

[rwbaldwin]

I've just seen a t**t in a new 5 series BMW (must have hands free) with phone against his ear whilst looking up something on his PDA. Rolled into the back of a MARKED police car at one of the many roundabouts in MK - broke police car's rear lights. Happy to give my details as a witness. Was fun watching t**t beg for a warning. Then beg for a fixed penalty. No chance - who says there is is no justice in the world or the police are never in the right place.

[vRS Carl]

i think the main problem is texting.

Dont get me wrong im not condoning using a phone full stop. i have bluetooth so dont need to hold it and keep my hands on the wheel.

They have proved ,and ill see if i can dig it out, that you are 4 times more likely to have an accident whilst using a mobile phone. I remember watching Traffic or Motorway cops and on it a woman was killed in a peugot 106 that was crushed to 2 1/2 feet long. all because the HGV driver that hit her was texting at the time. He was caught because when the police got in to check his tacograph his fone was still flashing mid-text. So you cant tell me that it's not dangerous to use a mobile Especially texting.

Carl

[newskoda]

I use my mobile(hands free kit) when driving, but if i'm on a rough stretch,busy traffic or i dont know the area i never use it.

What i dont understand is a hands free kit costs about £10. Yet there's so many idiots out there who seem to prefer to drive without it. All this cos they are either lazy or can't be bothered to spend £10. surely it should dawn on them driving with one hand is harder and extremely dangerous

[rigsby]

Ive got a police station 200 yards down the road from me, and you can guarantee at the start of every shift, there are at least 3 or 4 plods talking on their mobiles (not walkie talkies) as they drive away . And even if it was their walkie talkies, why is it safe for them to use them and not for anyone else to use a mobile. And what about truckers using CBs, thats not against the law. And another thing, how come the local plod dont have to wear their seatbelts?, is it so they can get out of the car quickly to apprehend crims in the act, I dont think so , the crims will be long gone before they have even generated a crime number

I know , its one rule for them and another for us

rant over