Would you believe it?!?!?!

[Uberwagon]

There were problems. And lots of near misses.

There still are problems and lots of near misses.

Enforcement is still way too haphazard.

I don't think people are understanding what i'm trying to say.

Driving Without Due Care and Attention is the law which should be used, not a blanket ban.

We should also have an eatin a sandwich ban, some can do this in the right conditions perfectly safely, others can't, so we ban it for all.

I know some people who are drunk after 2 pints, so from now on all pubs will have a 2 drink limit.

Why should the capable be punished by the incapable?

Dave!

 

[Dryce]

Driving Without Due Care and Attention is the law which should be used, not a blanket ban.

Sorry. Blanket ban backed by fixed penalty with points. Simple and relatively unambiguous.

The sort of idiot who uses a phone while driving probably would argue that he isn't driving without due care and attention. Then it becomes a dispute. Set a simple scalar measure - handphone or no handphone and it becomes simpler.

Out of all the times I've almost been hit or seen something stupid happening it's almost always been a pratt on a phone. And despite the law it still happens.

 

[verytalldave]

I would say that smoking is worse than speaking on a cellphone..........that is to say the initial finding of the packet of cigarettes out of the trouser pocket, extraction of a cigarette from the said packet, placing the cigarette the right way round in the mouth, closing the packet and putting it away, finding a lighter (or match), lighting the lighter and then applying the flame to cigarette, putting the lighter away and then eventually smoking the cigarette .....................
Is far, far more hazardous than answering a mobile phone.
Although I dont condone either.

 

[Uberwagon]

Ok, as the poster above says....

Noisy kids in the back = 3 points, they are a distraction.
Smoking = 3 points, fire inside a car.
Not having 2 hands on the wheel = 3 points, as any less than 2 is obviously dangerous.
Short people in big cars = 3 points as you can't see as much as a tall person, so are less safe.

If we use the same logic for the phone argument for everything else, none of us would be able to drive more than 50 feet without totting up a ban.

Oddly, most incidents I see around me are caused by bad road manners or observation of safe practices, distances, blind spots, conditions etc.

Dave!

 

[Dryce]

Noisy kids in the back = 3 points, they are a distraction.

Socially handphones are more optional than kids.

That said you could argue that a handsfree child suppression system (tranquiliser darts? taser?) or some sort of special insulated child storage compartment should be mandated (children only to be allowed in a towed trailer perhaps).

 

[recycled]

Pmsl

 

[mikebro]

it is illegal to use a phone whilst driving in Australia. Can lead to loss of licence

 

[HughJarse]

Listen the problem I have is near me on the motorway there is a stretch that asks you to stay 2 chevrons from the car in front, I tell ya keeping up with that Porsche was more than dangerous!!!

 

[recycled]

true. it keeps saying stay 2 chevrons apart instead of stating that its optional

 

[Carrotchomper]

Listen the problem I have is near me on the motorway there is a stretch that asks you to stay 2 chevrons from the car in front, I tell ya keeping up with that Porsche was more than dangerous!!!

I had a real problem on the chevron section of the M5 recently. Normally I let people overtake and ignore the signs. But the other day a Police car came past me and I thought I'd never get away with ignoring the signs. But it was so difficult to keep up and their flashing lights were dazzling from that distance in front of me

 

[kjay]

Do you .....
Shake your head when someone in a loud car is driving through a village?

Dave!

Yep, it's my age, I think.

....

Short people in big cars = 3 points as you can't see as much as a tall person, so are less safe.

Dave!

.

 

[oldcro]

Surely it is better to prevent an accident rather than punish someone after an accident, which would be the case if driving without due care was the law covering mobile use while driving.

 

[stevesey]

Surely it is better to prevent an accident rather than punish someone after an accident, which would be the case if driving without due care was the law covering mobile use while driving.

It does not require an accident for a prosecution of driving without due care - just that's how the police often find out (because they spend most of the time processing red tape, not on patrol?) Holding a phone is of course easier to prove than due care and attention, but I wonder if the proportion of prosecutions is similar.

 

[Frank O' Phile]

IIRC I read that, statistically, you are more likely to have an accident while using a mobile phone than if you were driving while under the influence.

If this is the case, then if you do have to use your phone, for safetys sake, have a good drink first.

 

[Natalie]

Seems to me you have to much spare time on your hands

Like the people that have the extra mirrors on there cars i often wonder how long they spend looking in them instead of looking where they are going?

I very rarely look at other drivers when i am out unless they are doing something silly and thats usually me

The general standard of driving is terrible, why are poeple always afraid to overtake coppers who are doing 60mph on the motorway?.


Lynall

Oh, if only to have more time - life would be so good!!!!

You seem to know a lot about how others drive given you "rarely look at other drivers"!

And, I use my mirrors for what they are intended for, and that is not applying makeup or checking my hair!

I am very aware of everything around me, spacial awareness I think it's called, forearmed is forewarned if someone is going to do something stupid and I just happened to check my rear view mirror to make sure the hoon on the phone coming up quickly behind me slowed down as I was stationery at the roundabout!

Yes! I did take his number (don't tell Mattc!)

 

[Adam230K]

I dont condone people talking on their phones whilst driving, it annoys me. But i think you are over reacting ever so slightly, but that is just my opinion.

Live and let live. One day you're going to be making some sort of error (not saying you'll talk on the phone whilst driving, could be anything), and someone will do exactly the same thing to you. What goes around comes around.

There's police about to do that kind've work.