topic Re: Driving while using a mobile phone! in Off-Topic

Driving while using a mobile phone!

perksie — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:29:23 GMT

It saddens me to hear that a thousand people were caught using their phones while driving in a two week period in Wales.

The attitude seems to be "Don't you do it, but it's ok if I do".

Your call or text just isn't that important and it will wait until you can deal with it safely:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20309819

One suggestion I've heard is that mobile phone companies be required to suspend your phone account if you are convicted of this.

What do you think?

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

jonsie — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:36:19 GMT

Seems the Sottish police want bus driver's and lorry driver's employers to take further action against employees endangering other road users, passengers and pedestrians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19569679

Quite right too. As for the networks suspending accounts, there would have to be a cross network agreement but I can see many ways round a suspended account. Although reclaiming the mobile number would certainly help to stop these idiots.

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

Toby — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:05:45 GMT

That's a staggering number perskie.

I don't even like using hands-free.

I'm not sure of a permanent suspension would be a good idea, perhaps a temporary one. Then again, using a phone can have either no effect, or cause a major accident so there's the argument whether to be reactive or preventative in terms of punishment

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:52:02 GMT

If there's one thing that really gets my goat is idiots using mobile phones while driving!! Only this afternoon i had an idiot at traffic lights so intent on using his mobile he did'nt even notice the lights had turned to green, then when i look in my rear veiw mirror there's another one behind me using their mobile!

Personally i wish they would make it 6 points on your license for the first offence then if caught a second time automatic 12 month driving ban! If people lose their job tough!

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

jonsie — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:56:50 GMT

Something needs to be done because the present law and penalties have no affect on these morons. You find lorry drivers and taxis amongst the worst offenders. Many times I have seen these people driving juggernauts at 60+ mph in the centre lane of the motorway swaying left and right.

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

MI5 — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:01:19 GMT

How am I supposed to hold my mobile in one hand when I have a can of lager in the other !!!!!

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

jonsie — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:02:35 GMT

A straw!

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

MI5 — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:17:18 GMT

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

sheepdog — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:23:46 GMT

On a slight side note, there's a particular 4 way junction near me where you can guarantee you will see someone on their phone turning. Yet the only place you see the Drive Alive vans are on a straight road a mile away in the opposite direction. Point is, the police authorities are more concerned with speeding (easy money) than catching a far more dangerous act just by moving the van a few metres and redefining the purpose of "Drive Alive".

As for suspending an account, it won't work as PAYG is too common. Getting the court to force the network operators to terminate a contract holder immediately which invokes the "pay up the remaining months now" clause and obviously a flag on the credit record which all future credit checks would reveal. After all, if you're risky about driving and phoning then aren't you a risk to be loaned money? A bit drastic but that would be the consequence of ignorance.

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:15:19 GMT

I use a hand free, but sometimes when it is not working, I pull over and park and make a quick call if I have to.

However, I did once behave like a complete **bleep**. I had just received a call as I was about to park my car in a narrow street in London. As I was holding the phone in one hand, I wasn't able to reverse into the space correctly and had to come back out and try again.

This Taxi driver behind me was not too impressed and decided to honk his horn. So with phone in hand, I round down the window and shouted

"Ssshh, can't you see I am on the phone"

This was back in 1997 and even though I thought it was funny, I did know that I behaved like a plonker, so never did that again.

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:18:25 GMT

i saw someone driving with her phone taped around her head once.....

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

jonsie — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:19:21 GMT

Cheaper than a handsfree I suppost!

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:21:28 GMT

freaked me the hell out.. thought she was one of those "crazy conspiracy" people. my daughter simply yelled out and laughed

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:48:11 GMT

I totally agree, for some reason some people find it so easy to break the rules. I think you've got to tackle the issue at source, bigger driving bans, re-sit driving tests larger fines and maybe a name and shame campaign by the D.V.L.A

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

ComaChameleon — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:27:59 GMT

How high is a fine in the UK for that?

We have 40€ (32 GBP) and one Point at our trafficregister. The Netherlands even have 140€ (112 GBP). But still with such high fines the people still use their phones. And we firefighters have to cut them out the wrecks -.-

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

perksie — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:19:03 GMT

£60 and 3 points, and it can be a lot worse:

https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

jonsie — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:06:37 GMT

There should be an instant ban and a hefty fine so people would then maybe think twice.

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

Liquid — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:38:55 GMT

Agreed insta ban! Just as dangerous as drink driving.

I am an avid user of hands free but I will admit its not perfect by any means. Can be just as distracting especially if your telling someone off or a agitated phone call.

Seeing as how we're most Lilly tracked via GPS anyway via phones it wouldn't be a difficult thing to implement that as soon as speed reaches above 30mph (or lower) the cell switches to aeroplane mode.

I think even I could implement that into a os.

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 20:44:28 GMT

I'm a home delivery driver for a supermarket, so I'm on the roads 5 - 6 hours a day, and I see on a regular basis, drivers of vans, lorries and cars using their phones. Even worse, some of them drive through roundabouts or junctions nattering away on the mobile. I saw one van driver in a LWB hi-top Transit texting while he was driving. Madness.

Re: Driving while using a mobile phone!

ComaChameleon — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:45:42 GMT

"If you build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of 3 years, you can be disqualified from driving."

But the points go away after a while, don't they?

Over here you loose your license at 18 points and you have to do the idiot-test.

So UK is already way stricter, if you get 3 points (we get 1) and loose the license at 12 points.

But as you can see, even with harder fines (as you have them), the people keep doing forbidden things & risk other peoples lifes.

@Liquid

If you would do that aeroplane-mode, people on trains, busses, or people who're just in a car (but not the driver) would be affected.

People will only stop such a behavior, when they become aware over the things that can happen and start think themselves.

But when I see some Mercedes or BMW racing on fast track and still telephone there, I doubt that'll happen (as you may know, Germany doesn't have general speed limit, our Autobahn is a racing track). Unavailable rationality.