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forum
Mobiles while driving a motor vehicle
The tragic stories behind using a mobile phone at the wheel http://www.itv.com/news/2016-09-15/mobile-phone-driving-deaths/
Interesting news story here arising fromthe RAC survey of motorists.
The one time I yelled at a car in a traffic jam GET OFF YOUR PHONE! I got a load of abuse intermingled with excuses - so at least he admitted it.
It took years and I daresay a lot of tragedies to change attitudes to drinking and driving, so we have to start somewhere, unless the Google (etc) driverless car is going to save us.
Some of the drivers in the ITV story aren't content with just talking either: nice.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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26 comments
The vast majority of people certainly do not use mobile phones while driving! I am sure I read somewhere that the risks are similar to that of drink driving?
Sadly it seems that this a common reflection of society in general, especially when one is offered the protection of a car. It seems that more and more people are oblivious to those around them. Before the ban came in I tried to answer an urgent call while driving and it was impossible.
I have no idea how people think that they can be in control of a car and talk on the phone at the same time.
Before we all get too sanctimonious, having just spent a week cycling into Cambridge on various cycle paths I can say that the cretinous desire to fiddle with mobiles whilst on the move is not limited to motorists. Yes a car can do a lot more damage but I really don't care how I ended up on the tarmac.
Smart phones these days all have GPS, maybe there should be a move to by default disable call/text functions when motion over some threshold speed is detected (unless the user deliberately overrides (for example because they are passengar rather than driver)).
Its a shame local forces havent got the ability to upload video clips to their websites for review, wouldnt need to be just for motoring offences
Satnav? If you're looking at the satnav you're not looking where you are going. Take 30 seconds out before your journey to plan your route in advance.
you can plan and memorise an entire route in 30 seconds? impressive!
Sat Nav's do speak to you as well... Its nice having the screen there to glance at as well, to ensure the instruction is correctly interpreted, but its not essential.
I'd suggest you are splitting hairs around overall safety of driving when comparing glancing at a sat nav, as apposed to desperately looking for signs and directions on the road.
But interesting to read that using a phone as a sat nav is not OK. what is the situation with using sat nav's in general?
My daily journey of over 200 miles to thirty destinations I've never been to planned in 30 seconds !
If you drive a vehicle properly you are not looking where you are going all the time. You should scan constantly,mirrors, instruments,parked cars,pavements, low trees,reflections in shop windows. SatNavs are one of the best saftey devices invented. No struggling with maps,no trying to read hidden street signs or house numbers. Warnings of speed limits, accident hot spots,traffic hold ups,detours. I'd be lost without mine
+1... I think they make driving safer becuase people know where tehy are going and are less likely to make erratic unindecated turns etc.
Also, i feel safer when doing a long journey into the unknown with a sat nav because i know where i'm going, i know what time it says im going to get there, so there is no hurry as you can see your not going to arrive earlier, so its just more relaxing and therefore i'm more aware of all road users.
Phone use is a disgrace though... On my commute i saw a lady in a nhs nurse uniform driving along talking on one today, surely a front line health worker would have seen some sorry tales caused by action like that?!!
I was driving in a farmyard the other week when my phone rang,being off road i just stopped picked it up,didn't recognise the name so i dismissed the call and chucked it back down.
When i looked at the phone later i noticed the name had LCC before it, So i googled the name when i got home and it was someone from the London cycling campaign no idea what they wanted but i wish i'd answered it and said "hang on a sec i'm driving".
There are just 3 permitted uses of a screen viewed when driving
1) as an alternative to a mirror
2) as an alternative to conventional instrumentation
3) to monitor a load of other detail on the vehicle which is necessary whilst moving (eg livestock)
This apparently does not include a satnav map, but I've asked DfT to clarify this.
That noted I'd also note that many driver are placing themselves open to further prosecution when putting the satnav unit on the dashboard on a mount that puts it in the windscreen 'zone' as the law requires a minimum area of windscreen to be clear of any labelling, or accessories/devices - put a satnav there and you're nabbed.
There was an excellent response from the Police on the news I saw which was essentially double it if you like, until we have the resources to actually do anything about it it's not going to make a difference.
This is clearly a case of politicians writing a vote gaining headline knowing that the law change will make bugger all difference.
This! It might just as well be the death penalty for the number of enforcements there are likely to be.
I saw a guy doing a three point turn whilst texting last week.
I've mused previously that there should be some kind of app that if you can get a picture of someone doing such a thing and they get prosecuted you get a fiver from the fine.
I commute by bike and see it every single day. I still don't know a single person who's been stopped however. What point doubling the points when nobody gets prosecuted?
This morning's news is that penalty points have to double, to six, and a second offence will incur a disqualification. Be interesting to see how many tickets are issued in the next year or two.
I have to say, as much as the stats look terrible, I don't think its as bleak a picture as painted.
If I was asked the same questions, I'd have had to answer yes as well. Doesn't mean I've used a mobile in a car for a long period of time... i.e. habits have changed... nor does it take into account that someone might send a rare text when stuck in stationary traffic, or take a call on a deserted motorway... which means they are an offender... but not a regular abuser.
Not saying its right, but just differentiating between caning your phone whilst driving, and being a rare as hen's teeth, occasional reader of a text.
What scare me a bit, is the definition of using a mobile. I will use my mobile as a GPS system (mounted on the dashboard), just like you'd use a garmin or tom tom. Officially I could be held accountable as a mobile user...
that would depend if you were using it as a sat nav or to check your twitter...
Very fair comment. Sadly, we all criticise others for using mobile in the car, but few of us are totally without sin!
It's easy - just leave the f**king thing alone while you're driving! Put it in a bag in the boot.
No call, text or tweet is that important.
You mean you do use your mobile in the car. If you're sad about it - just don't bloody do it !
Put the phone on airplane. Don't get it out. Simple.
My employer now tells us not to use cars in phones - not even hands free. If we call someone - external or internal and they're driving - we can't continue the conversation. I hope more companies will follow.
The rail industry has a protocol for calling someone on a mobile phone - first question "are you in a safe place to take this call" Many set auto text reply "Not able to take this call now please leave short text with the reason for your call"
On this particular matter, I can say categorically that I am without sin.
I don't use my phone in the car (as a driver). No-one I know does, at least not when I've driven with them.
Don't try to justify your own use of the phone on the grounds that others do it. You know that it's illegal and, way more importantly, dangerous so just stop, rather than lying to yourself with platittudes like the one you've just given.
If you want to be able to cycle in a country that has no dangerous at-the-wheel mobile phone use, make a small start by committing to never do it yourself again, whatever others do or say.
Errrr.... nope! You're on your own there as far as I'm concerned!
I remember waiting behind a car in a traffic queue for lights, and the driver was reading an iPad on their lap. The lights changed, everyone moved forward except them, then they suddenly realised, flung the tablet into the passenger seat and roared forward in the wrong gear just in time to miss the lights again