New penalties for using a hand held phone whilst driving

[barney bear]

Contrary to what some people think I absolutely detest people using the phone while they are driving, it is more dangerous than drink driving, as has been proven many times in various tests. Most people nowadays can't walk down the street and use the phone at the same time let alone drive

[stevestrat]

Always remember one of those Traffic Police programs on telly. A HGV had hit the back of a queue of traffic at considerable speed. The car it hit was so mangled the HGV driver thought he'd hit the car in front of it! The female car driver died instantaneously. HGV driver had been playing about with the phone fitted in the cab.

[Dallas]

Try THIS...

Using hands-free is just as dangerous, its still a distraction.

[coolcat]

Originally Posted by Dallas

Try THIS...

Using hands-free is just as dangerous, its still a distraction.

As is talking to your passengers, eating a boiled sweet, singing along to the radio, picking your nose, admiring passing 75's and ZT's and many other distractions!

Any lapse in concentration or distraction can have terrible consequences but let's put some perspective on this.
Most accidents caused by peeps on the phone is the act of only having one hand on the wheel or looking at the phone display and not out the windscreen.

Talking on a hands free device means both hands are controlling the car and your eyes should be on the road, same as if talking to a passenger in the car at the time.
Don't see how that is any different, having said that, I limit any conversation I have handsfree in the car to as short as possible and would usually say "I'll call you back when I've stopped"

[FLYER]

Originally Posted by stevestrat

Always remember one of those Traffic Police programs on telly. A HGV had hit the back of a queue of traffic at considerable speed. The car it hit was so mangled the HGV driver thought he'd hit the car in front of it! The female car driver died instantaneously. HGV driver had been playing about with the phone fitted in the cab.

If enough people report this to employers it will wake this lot up.

No point reporting private car drivers as i cant see the police being willing to act .

However a wee home visit to them to remind them they are being watched could get results .

Nowt worse than a cop car outside your gaff.

[Dallas]

Originally Posted by coolcat

As is talking to your passengers, eating a boiled sweet, singing along to the radio, picking your nose, admiring passing 75's and ZT's and many other distractions!

Jeff, chatty passengers tend to pose less of a risk than someone on the end of a mobile phone. Passengers will usually moderate the conversation as to what is around them, passengers are aware of your surroundings as you are. Drivers do not need to use their visual memory when chatting to passengers, talking in person involves non verbal cues which ease the flow of conversation.

Having someone on the end of a mobile phone are completely oblivious to your surroundings, phone conversations are more taxing because they lack these cues, plus! conversations over the phone cause the driver to visually imagine what they’re talking about which uses other parts of the brain and reduces concentration anonymously.

[klarzy]

its easy.... phone manufacturers send an update saying your phone will only work in hands free mode if you are travelling faster than 10 MPH...

95% of phones have GPS and it wont be long before they all do as standard...
make it impossible to use on the move in manual modes...

[topman]

How will it know who's driving?

[klarzy]

Originally Posted by topman

How will it know who's driving?

does not matter, pump them all thorough hands free...

[Lancpudn]

I have a mobile phone that lives in the boot, I've just been cleaning out the car & treating the seats to some leather cream & thought I'd better put it on charge. I received an incoming call on it (three times) & haven't the foggiest idea how to accept an incoming call LOL It's now on top of the conservatory where it landed.