View Full Version : New Law About Mobiles While Driving?
I'm all for better driving, road safety etc and despite driving a BMW do not consider I "own" the road :nono: but this recent new legislation about using mobiles whilst driving just seems to be causing more problems :thinking:
I have just been on a short (15mins) trip locally and saw three cars just stopped in the road with people talking on their phones - presumably they know they can get 3 points for using their phone while driving so they just stop ANYWHERE :annoyed: - No attempt seems to be made to pull to the side of the road or perish the thought wait until they can pull in somewhere safe and CALL THE FRICKIN' PERSON BACK :shrug:
Anyway it annoys the hell out of me (NSS) - Is it happening everywhere or just here in "Rat-Race Central"?
Paul ;)
They too poor to buy a £3 hands free kit?
On the subject, an off duty policeman was caught the other day up here :)
minky_monkey
11-03-2007, 12:29
Something I found interesting the other day, someone was given a ticket for being on a mobile phone whilst supervising a learner driver. I suppose when it comes down to it, they're not properly supervising, but I would've thought a ticking off by the officer rather than a ticket would have sufficed.
I guess it depends on the persons attitude though!
Waterworx
11-03-2007, 15:14
Paulboy, sorry to say but it's happening here in Cornwall too, even in little country lanes. I came around a corner the other day and nearly ended up in someones boot, they were totally oblivious because they were on the phone :annoyed: you could probably guess I wasn't to pleased :annoyed: :annoyed: :annoyed:
I'm all for better driving, road safety etc and despite driving a BMW do not consider I "own" the road :nono: but this recent new legislation about using mobiles whilst driving just seems to be causing more problems :thinking:
I have just been on a short (15mins) trip locally and saw three cars just stopped in the road with people talking on their phones - presumably they know they can get 3 points for using their phone while driving so they just stop ANYWHERE :annoyed: - No attempt seems to be made to pull to the side of the road or perish the thought wait until they can pull in somewhere safe and CALL THE FRICKIN' PERSON BACK :shrug:
Anyway it annoys the hell out of me (NSS) - Is it happening everywhere or just here in "Rat-Race Central"?
Paul ;)
Whats NSS?
No s*** sherlock?
Correct-a-mundo Steep :clap:
Glad its not just me then!
Off duty plod should know better :embarrassed:
I'd have given the driving supervisor a warning but like you say its all about attitude (usually)
Paul ;)
If you are a full licensed driver attendant with a learner then technically you are deemed to "be driving" - which is why he would have got the same penalty as if he'd been behind the wheel himself.
There is NO phone call as important as driving safely. Let it ring.
Something I found interesting the other day, someone was given a ticket for being on a mobile phone whilst supervising a learner driver. I suppose when it comes down to it, they're not properly supervising, but I would've thought a ticking off by the officer rather than a ticket would have sufficed.
I guess it depends on the persons attitude though!
Technically the supervisor of the learner driver is in charge of the car and responsible for the learner. So he deserves to be booked.
When I turn off a dual carriageway on my way home, I have nearly run into idiots who pull up in the slip road or have stopped just round the corner of a blind bend.
Can't say as I've noticed any difference in the number of people driving whilst holding a phone - they still do it.
I just turn mine off when driving. How difficult is that!
Oh! I have 3 missed calls... I'll just call the ones I know and the others will RING ME BACK IF IT'S IMPORTANT...
This is a special-quality on-going rant of mine also...
I'm all for safer driving, and have rarely used my mobile phone whilst driving inthe past (normally I cut the other person off (usually my wife)) if I'm driving.
She then knows I am driving. If she rings back straight away, then thats our code for "Its an emergency" and I'll answer it. Only ever had that once with a suspected meningitis scare with the littleun....Anyway....Saying that, I am not allowed to even cut someone off anymore :shake:
What annoys me about the latest 'legislation' is that in one breath they have adverts saying it's hard to concentrate on two things at once, and talking on your phone while driving is bad, because it's the concentrating on what the other person is sayin that confuses the driver.
Then in the next breath theyre saying "Its the actual holding of your phone which is illegal....so use a handsfree....or put it in in holster on the dash".
Make your bloody mind up... :rant:
minimeeze
11-03-2007, 22:23
Or just don't answer it. I have to have my work mobile switched on whilst I'm on duty, but I just let it ring. People can leave me a message or call me back if it's important. It really winds me up to see people talking on mobiles whilst driving :annoyed:
Better still just don't have one of the infernal things.
antonroland
12-03-2007, 06:41
To be honest I do not really see how a hands free set can diminish the interferance on your concentration while driving...:shrug:
You still have to dial the numbers and then the thing falls in between the seats...:bang:
:bonk:
Agree then SWITCH THE DAMN THING OFF!!
The clever people did invent voice mail didn't they?
h.r.ford
12-03-2007, 07:20
It is all about looking important... I'm so important it is worth risking your life over. My phone has the nifty voice activation and completely hands free that being said I only use it when I'm stuck in traffic that is moving at slower than snail pace.
Jimmy_Lemon
12-03-2007, 09:25
I still think Speed cameras (especially the ones on motorway roadworks) are as dangerous...the amount of times I have had to break hard when some idiot suddenly realises there is a speed camera and they have no idea what the speed limit is! Never mind the fact that you have to keep one eye on the speedo just incase you start to go slightly downhill and go over the limit....but yeah people on phones do annoy me too (just not as much as speed camera is seems) :D
P.S this is why I dont normally get up at this time! far too grumpy!
antonroland
12-03-2007, 09:55
I still think Speed cameras (especially the ones on motorway roadworks) are as dangerous...the amount of times I have had to break hard when some idiot suddenly realises there is a speed camera and they have no idea what the speed limit is! Never mind the fact that you have to keep one eye on the speedo just incase you start to go slightly downhill and go over the limit....but yeah people on phones do annoy me too (just not as much as speed camera is seems) :D
P.S this is why I dont normally get up at this time! far too grumpy!
Could it be that your speed is also not always inside the legal limits then?
:D
Have to agree JL, I had a bump a few weeks back on the M42 becuase as I checked my speed the guy in front stopped dead, which intern meant I did as well, thankfully we were only doing 40 and I only nudged him. When we exchanged details he apologised to me but I dont think it would have happened if I hadn't checked my speed when approaching the camera, taking my eye of the vehicle infront.
"Sorry to go off topic guys"
Jimmy_Lemon
12-03-2007, 09:58
lol my speed isnt always "legal" - but I always know what the speed limit is, and i am not against speed cameras in theory, its when they are used to either obviously trap people or when other drivers dont seem to see/understand them :(
as Lee says - yeah sorry for going off topic :p
whitewash
12-03-2007, 19:36
i just like the way that driving while talking on your phone on the motorway is now punishable to exactly the same limits as driving at 50mph past a school at home time............ yet it seems to be uninforcable to stop someone lighting a ciggy while driving and driving with one hand while they smoke it before throwing it out of the window when they're finished!
antonroland
12-03-2007, 20:43
i just like the way that driving while talking on your phone on the motorway is now punishable to exactly the same limits as driving at 50mph past a school at home time............ yet it seems to be uninforcable to stop someone lighting a ciggy while driving and driving with one hand while they smoke it before throwing it out of the window when they're finished!
Fair point Sir!
Then off course there is eating behind the wheel, opening your bottle of cold drink behind the wheel while steering with your legs and many more...
Ticket them all I say!:bat:
whitewash
12-03-2007, 21:10
changing cd's on the fly, swapping channels on the radio, the radio in general, sat nav, ipods, passengers, air con settings etc all distracting
Jimmy_Lemon
12-03-2007, 22:05
People have been fined for drinking whilst driving before! some women a while ago was fined by some cops whilst having a drink whilst stopped at some lights...was pretty big in the news. But yeah I do tend to agree that all the points listed above are more distracting for me than phoning!
minimeeze
12-03-2007, 22:13
Was wondering today if a fine will soon be introduced for those that smoke whilst driving as I agree with Whitewash - the distraction is just the same.
Article in our local rag the other day about a man fined and penalty points dished out cos he was eating a sandwich whilst driving :eek: Sometimes that's the only chance I get to eat lunch at work.
Im going to defend the smoking aspect here (to a minimal degree anyway).
Smoking isn't as distracting as using a mobile.
Smoking is done pretty much subconciously, and can be done with both hand on the wheel apart from temporary moments to take a drag on the cig.
I'm not saying it's not without its dangers, but comparitively, I think using a mobile is far more dangerous.
Technically, anything that requires you to take your hand off the steering wheel can cause a problem, the thing is what you're doing *while* your hand is off the wheel that is the main concern. Are you concentrating on putting a 11 digit number into a small box? Are you fiddling above your head trying to find the right CD without looking? Once you have to concentrate on something, that's when it becomes the problem.
With smoking, there's not alot of concious decisions being made (apart from lighting it or throwing it out of course)
I think new legislation is planned to make it an offence to alter your car stereo settings if you don't have column/steering wheel-mounted controls.
Technically, anything that causes you to break concentration is an offence and any accident thus caused will not only result in some form of penalty, but your insurance will be void (bet yer ass on that one - anything to avoid paying out).
whitewash
13-03-2007, 08:13
so those signs made from lorry trailers selling cheap loans etc should also be made illegal because they are DESIGNED to break your concentration from the road and gain your attention
Wile E. coyote
13-03-2007, 08:27
Did anyone watch BBC1 last night at 9.30pm, I think the name was road cops. A 23 year old girl was killed by a lorry driver who was messing around with his phone. The girl was killed instantly and the car was almost unreconisable, he hit her at 60mph without braking. If that does stop people from using their phones I dont know what will.
so those signs made from lorry trailers selling cheap loans etc should also be made illegal because they are DESIGNED to break your concentration from the road and gain your attention
Yup - it's loophole they're trying to close.
whitewash
13-03-2007, 22:44
i wish they would the loansandhugecreditdebtsnobotherwe'llsortyououtwith anythingyouneedfinanciallybecausewearntloansharksH ONEST.com advert i drive past everyweek is boring me now!
Waterworx
13-03-2007, 23:20
Technically, anything that causes you to break concentration is an offence and any accident thus caused will not only result in some form of penalty, but your insurance will be void (bet yer ass on that one - anything to avoid paying out).
So does this also mean a nagging partner/arguing kids/general discussion/singing to yourself (I do this 1 alot :lol: ) is going to be classed as an offence, and thus, there could be a possibility of recieving a penalty?
:thinking:
Noisy children....against the law? We can only live in hope :D
Waterworx
14-03-2007, 00:31
Mind you, the government is trying to bring in ridiculous laws- pay as you drive/vehicle tracking oh and did someone once mention outlawing photography in public places, or you require a licence?
Going by these, a noisy child ban isn't far away- I hope! :lol: :lol:
:cuckoo: :thumbs:
Nagging Partners have always been against the law.
A 'Scold' was routinely dumped in the village pond. Bring that one back, I say.
antonroland
14-03-2007, 21:15
i wish they would the loansandhugecreditdebtsnobotherwe'llsortyououtwith anythingyouneedfinanciallybecausewearntloansharksH ONEST.com advert i drive past everyweek is boring me now!
Now what if this was a wonderbra ad?
:thinking: :D
Paul Blythe
14-03-2007, 21:57
The ban on smoking in your place of work is going to cause havoc for some. If your a profesional driver ie. hgv, bus/coach or taxi driver then you won't be allowed to smoke in your vehicle. Rep's will be included in this also, as their vehicle is classed as their place of work whilest out and about.
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.