Mobile phone use.

[nick mercedes]

The "it's only 71 deaths when more people die falling out of bed, so why worry" argument is crass to say the least. With that sort of argument, should we let Tesco sell guns? After all, only a similar number of people are shot dead in the UK. They don't really matter do they?!!

It's the putting it into context thing, 17 out of 1700 odd.

I'm not saying the 17 don't matter, it's just in the overall picture it's not the huge problem the media seem to make it out to be.

 

[whitenemesis]

No that wasn't sarcastic, I really mean it but wouldn't go that far as 40s but in late nineties last true cars were made.

If young drivers were to drive cars from the 70s, that would focus their attention! Cars these days are so stable, cossetting and insulating crashing is very survivable. In a 70s car, 50mph was a white knuckle ride....

 

[MercedesDriver]

If young drivers were to drive cars from the 70s, that would focus their attention! Cars these days are so stable, cossetting and insulating crashing is very survivable. In a 70s car, 50mph was a white knuckle ride....

In 70s yes but in 90s crash test results were on this same level like today but without todays gadgets

 

[KennyN]

Something that hasn`t really been touched on is the fact that certain members of society just do not care for the well-being of others no matter what the law states.

They know it is illegal and it does impede driving ability but they just dont care as they always think they will never have an accident and never be caught , the death penalty could be the punishment for using a mobile device whilst driving but some will still blatantly disregard the rules and laws of the road for the aforementioned reasons.

I was nearly rear ended twice by the same driver today as they just had to read and reply, whilst driving, to whatever life changing item was on their phone.

Last week whilst walking the hound i watched a chap texting whilst weaving along the middle of the road only to pull into his driveway a mere 30m further along and finish his communication , it must have been really important that he couldnt just wait until he had completed his journey as that 6 / 7 seconds must have made all the difference.

As stated , some just dont care.

Kenny

 

[Stratman]

I still think the best deterrent would be on-the-spot confiscation of the phone.

You get it back when all fines have been paid and the points are on your licence.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

How do you know their decision to use a phone is unnecessary? Any why not ask the manufacturers to stop integrating the technology to use them legally? It's all a bit negative. How about thinking about what can be done positively?

It no doubt depends on your definition of unnecessary. IMO life-threatening emergencies are necessary. I can't think of anything else whereby it's necessary to use the phone whilst driving instead of waiting to get to somewhere safe to stop.

It's not up to me to tell manufacturers what to put into their cars in order to make them more likely to sell. And I for one wouldn't want to pay for technology in my car that makes it safer to use a phone, because I don't use a phone whilst driving. It's why I didn't pay extra for some "safety" options that I know I don't need when I specified my new car.

If hoping that people can start to think isn't positive, I don't know what is.

I'm all for new technology, if not I wouldn't have spent 26 years working in telecommunications research and development. But I'm not keen on technology that takes the place of common sense.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

The worst piece of driving that I have seen for years was only last week.

The guy in front of me slammed on his brakes to have a violent row with his two children in the back seat. As I passed him I could hear him shouting through my glass and his, he was puce!

i haven't seen such anger for over a week.

 

[davidjpowell]

The worst piece of driving that I have seen for years was only last week.

The guy in front of me slammed on his brakes to have a violent row with his two children in the back seat. As I passed him I could hear him shouting through my glass and his, he was puce!

i haven't seen such anger for over a week.

If only you could see people posting on this thread....

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

To anyone that thinks having a passenger talking to you isn't as distracting as a hands free call, I'll lend you my missus for an hour

She is the worst to have as a passenger, so distracting waffling on and on

 

[Alex225]

It's always going to divide opinion and thanks for all the replies to my post.

For me personally if I'm driving then they takes priority be it consciously or subconsciously be it speaker phone or passenger conversation.

Admittedly I'm not a constant user of my phone in this manner but interesting hearing opinions.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

If only you could see people posting on this thread....

No doubt David. The fury is sometimes palpable.

 

[ToeKnee]

In no way condoning the use of mobile phones behind the wheel, I'm curious as to how many of the above posters who want it banned have ever broken the speed limit? An illegal act which is also the cause of many accidents/deaths!

 

[219]

If young drivers were to drive cars from the 70s, that would focus their attention! Cars these days are so stable, cossetting and insulating crashing is very survivable. In a 70s car, 50mph was a white knuckle ride....

The 1970 W115 220/8 I learned to drive and passed my test in was completely stable up to 70 ( and well beyond ) , and the 1975 W114 280E which came next was equally stable to highly illegal speeds . So was my 1976 Audi 100GL , not to mention my 1957 Ponton . I've also had several air cooled Beetles , a couple of Minis , Triumph Herald , Hillman Minx , Ford Consul , Mk1 Granada and numerous other cars of that era - not just Mercedes .

There's no reason why any older car ( apart maybe from a Reliant three wheeler ) would be a 'white knuckle ride' at fairly modest speed - unless there were serious defects .

 

[219]

To anyone that thinks having a passenger talking to you isn't as distracting as a hands free call, I'll lend you my missus for an hour

She is the worst to have as a passenger, so distracting waffling on and on

Worse still if the non-driving MIL is there too - you don't need to ask how I know .

 

[whitenemesis]

The 1970 W115 220/8 I learned to drive and passed my test in was completely stable up to 70 ( and well beyond ) , and the 1975 W114 280E which came next was equally stable to highly illegal speeds . So was my 1976 Audi 100GL , not to mention my 1957 Ponton . I've also had several air cooled Beetles , a couple of Minis , Triumph Herald , Hillman Minx , Ford Consul , Mk1 Granada and numerous other cars of that era - not just Mercedes .

There's no reason why any older car ( apart maybe from a Reliant three wheeler ) would be a 'white knuckle ride' at fairly modest speed - unless there were serious defects .

Of course Derek

 

[Alex225]

I guess the difference with having a passenger compared to a mobile is passengers have always been in cars!

I mean I passed my test in 1999 and even then mobile usage was minimal compared to today but always had passengers.

I guess as distracting as they may be, they're considered acceptable to talk to.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

In no way condoning the use of mobile phones behind the wheel, I'm curious as to how many of the above posters who want it banned have ever broken the speed limit? An illegal act which is also the cause of many accidents/deaths!

I'm not one of those who want in-car use of mobile phones banned, but I do want people to understand the risks they run by using them. Hopefully then they will stop. In the same way, I've kept my speed down since I grew up and understood the possible consequences of excessive speed in the wrong places. I'm not concerned whether or not these things are illegal, I'm just concerned about life.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

http://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/drivers/distraction/mobile-phones/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36475180

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phones_and_driving_safety

The last link has numerous references to articles and studies providing evidence on the dangers of in-car mobile phone use.

In spite of all the supporting evidence people continue to ignore the bleedin' obvious. I can only assume that none of them give a toss about anyone else, even their nearest and dearest. Unfortunately I fear they'll continue to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the undoubted risks. Well, until someone close to them is killed or seriously injured because someone was driving whilst using their phone. Or until they kill themseves!

 

[brucemillar]

M2 Westbound this morning on my normal school run. Normal queuing traffic at the Rochester - Bluebell Hill Junction. I notice the lady behind me as she is visibly weaving between lanes as if considering an overtake. She eventually decides on the left hand lane with me in the right hand lane. That causes the the cars on the left hand lane to sound their horns at her as she forces her way into the queue. As she draws level with me. She is clearly holding with both hands a giant sized phone on the steering wheel. Big enough that without any effort you can see she is looking at Facebook whilst typing. Three small kids in the back and another in the front - Doh.

As we move slowly forward in the queue a white Toyota Taxi comes down past the queuing traffic (these queues are usually about 1 mile long in the mornings) he then brakes in the live lane and attempts force his way into the queue by driving over the chevrons, leaving his cars rear in the live lane. He is very clearly on the phone with it pressed to his head in his right hand. He also has three school kids in the back seat.

Is the message going to get through? No. There are no Police left to Police any of these laws - hence they are asking the public to do it for them. I suspect that were to report these incidents you would get a universal disinterest from the Police. They cant actually do anything, as they have "more serious crime" to deal with.

As we get to the junction. It is blocked by a large fully loaded coach that is stuck, having crossed the lights when the exit was blocked. Yes.... Driver is clearly on his phone.

My point in posting this?

That is just three incidents, involving kids, in less than two minutes on a main arterial Motorway in rush hour. Two with "professional" drivers who are entrusted with other peoples kids.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

So what is the solution?