Takes the biscuit

[xpc316e]

Today whilst running a cyclist training course for 9-10 year olds I saw the driver of a C class with a phone in his right hand and glued to his right ear, while his left hand was holding a second phone which he was texting on (could have been scrolling through directory I suppose) as well as gripping the steering wheel. This was about 150 yards from the local nick which he then drove past. Quite outrageous. Moments earlier I had seen a driver with a coffee in one hand struggling to do a three-point turn in a busy, but narrow, side street. Where are the Traffic Police when you need them?

 

[normanr]

People could not give a damn because they know the chances of getting caught are very slim (not enough police to go round).

They should really shove the fines up high maybe that would make them think but they don't have a brain do they.

In my village a 12 year old girl got killed by a bloke in a range rover while he was using his mobile phone what annoys me is he denied using it.

 

[Gucci]

And yet a friend of mine stopped for a couple of moments to drop someone off. His back wheels were on zig zag lines of a crossing....£80 fine...no, he shouldn't have been there, but hardly in the same league as the mobile phone users

 

[edthedead]

Today whilst running a cyclist training course for 9-10 year olds I saw the driver of a C class with a phone in his right hand and glued to his right ear, while his left hand was holding a second phone which he was texting on (could have been scrolling through directory I suppose) as well as gripping the steering wheel. This was about 150 yards from the local nick which he then drove past. Quite outrageous. Moments earlier I had seen a driver with a coffee in one hand struggling to do a three-point turn in a busy, but narrow, side street. Where are the Traffic Police when you need them?

I expect police officers on here are thinking.... 'How come I only ever see things like that when I'm off duty' ...

 

[pammy]

Mr P gets loads of people on their phones It's staggering how many still do it. I saw a guy in a new sl500 today with his glued to his left ear and he was not concentrating on the road but his conversation!

 

[Dieselman]

I've seen two today, one in a newish range Rover and one in a newish Mitsu Warrior.
The Mitsu driver was spreading right over the lane markings on a dual carriageway until I squeezed past and 'educated' him..

 

[NW_Merc]

'educated' him..

How?

 

[Dieselman]

How?

A gentle squeeze..

 

[glojo]

Today whilst running a cyclist training course for 9-10 year olds I saw the driver of a C class with a phone in his right hand and glued to his right ear, while his left hand was holding a second phone which he was texting on

Nah, He was scratching his ear and merely placing the other phone in his lap!

Hpw dare you assume they were using the phone!

Regards
John the stirrer

 

[GeorgeA]

Like others I see people with the phone stuck to their ears negotiating busy junctions and driving past schools etc etc. This is a daily occurrence. It really annoys me.

The other day my phone rang while I was driving along and it was very tempting to just answer it. But I didn't

If you do not have a hands free then you should simply turn the phone off and back on when the journey is over. Easier said than done - I know - but from now on this is what I am going to do.

If the fine was tripled does anyone think people would stop using their phones while driving?????

 

[PXW]

The other day my phone rang while I was driving along and it was very tempting to just answer it. But I didn't

The other day my phone rang and I did answer it. I had a 15 minute conversation, then hung up. I don't consider I caused any enhanced risk whilst doing this, as I was on a main road I know well with very few junctions, in light traffic and good conditions.

There have been other occasions when my phone has rung and I haven't answered it - on busy and/or unknown roads, at complicated junctions, in very poor weather etc - in other words anywhere I think the risk is enhanced and I need all my concentration. I have also very abruptly terminated phone calls whilst driving because the road conditions changed (you can always call back later and apologise, though my standard approach is to tell the caller I am driving and may have to break off or ignore them).

The key issue, I believe, is not whether or not the phone use is hands free per se (though I aknowledge the law), but whether the level of distraction involved in the call is enough to make it unsafe.

In case you are wondering, I do have full hands free and always use it for any in-car calls I do make or receive.

 

[Roger Jones]

Since when did driving not require 100% concentration? Would you pass a driving test if you used a phone, hands free or not? Phones don't have to be answered: that's what the answering/message option is all about.

 

[GeorgeA]

In case you are wondering, I do have full hands free and always use it for any in-car calls I do make or receive.

You are not breaking the law and indeed exercise due care and diligence. My criticism, together with others, is levelled at those who persist in using a handheld device.

If you do not have a hands free system in the car then the call can wait - its as simple as that.

 

[PXW]

Since when did driving not require 100% concentration? Would you pass a driving test if you used a phone, hands free or not? Phones don't have to be answered: that's what the answering/message option is all about.

No-one drives with 100% concentration, and all driving is a balance of risks. Do you listen to the radio? Do you think about work, about loved ones, about the place/event/meeting you are driving to, about the stunning blonde in the boxster next to you etc etc? All mean you are not 100% concentrated on the driving. Why pick on a phone call?

 

[PXW]

You are not breaking the law and indeed exercise due care and diligence. My criticism, together with others, is levelled at those who persist in using a handheld device.

If you do not have a hands free system in the car then the call can wait - its as simple as that.

Entirely agree - my quote of your post was not a criticism, but was just to create a handle to make the point that a risk view should be taken before taking even a hands free call.

 

[normanr]

What a load of rubbish all laws could be broken in your case then.

Hello officer no I carry a knife to peel my apple as I have false teeth.

 

[PXW]

What a load of rubbish all laws could be broken in your case then.

Hello officer no I carry a knife to peel my apple as I have false teeth.

Sorry, don't understand Which post is this directed at?

 

[normanr]

Quote
The other day my phone rang and I did answer it. I had a 15 minute conversation, then hung up. I don't consider I caused any enhanced risk whilst doing this, as I was on a main road I know well with very few junctions, in light traffic and good conditions.

This is what it is pointed at who are you to decide if it was safe to use your phone whilst driving,hence my comment you do not decide the laws the government does

 

[GeorgeA]

Quote
The other day my phone rang and I did answer it. I had a 15 minute conversation, then hung up. I don't consider I caused any enhanced risk whilst doing this, as I was on a main road I know well with very few junctions, in light traffic and good conditions.

This is what it is pointed at who are you to decide if it was safe to use your phone whilst driving,hence my comment you do not decide the laws the government does

The law was not being broken since PXW was using his hands free in car system. The point being made is that even using a legal system for taking calls requires a decision to be exercised in the circumstances you find yourself driving in.

You may have thought that he had the phone stuck to his ear but this was not the case. Hope this clarifies things

 

[PXW]

normanr Quote
The other day my phone rang and I did answer it. I had a 15 minute conversation, then hung up. I don't consider I caused any enhanced risk whilst doing this, as I was on a main road I know well with very few junctions, in light traffic and good conditions.

This is what it is pointed at who are you to decide if it was safe to use your phone whilst driving,hence my comment you do not decide the laws the government does

Indeed the government does pass laws - sometimes even quite sensible ones. My post said explicitly that I acknowledge the law - I therefore fail to see what annoyed you. Who am I to decide if it was safe? Quite simply the best qualified and only person who could decide - i..e the driver. As drivers we make many judgements every day, and whether to answer the call - on hands free - is one of them. A decision to take a call hand held however is a different matter - it is now illegal. But we should not slavishly follow that law and imagine that simply by not using hand held phones we have eliminated the risk.

The law was not being broken since PXW was using his hands free in car system. The point being made is that even using a legal system for taking calls requires a decision to be exercised in the circumstances you find yourself driving in.

You may have thought that he had the phone stuck to his ear but this was not the case. Hope this clarifies things

Exactly so, George - the point is that with a hands free you can make calls quite legally and still dangerously - so judgement is required.