castletyne Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 The £60 is nothing its the little offence code on your license Insurance goes up hundreds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 I don't think it is much about the phone call as already done above. It is all about concentrating on the screen .... looking through lists, texts etc when it may be on your lap, on a seat, skidding across the dashboard. I thought the law was that the phone just needs to be in a holder? or has this been updated Personally, I just ignore any phone calls whilst driving, think it is called "me time" ..... annoys the hell out of them I was in a taxi the other day, the driver was deaf so used texts with his boss, but his phone was on his leg so he had to stare at his lap for all communications. within 3 miles we swerved over the white line and nearly hit the nearside curb..... Was glad to be out of that one. Just shows how bad concentrating on text on a tiny screen on your lap can be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parapilot Posted March 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 I do had bluetooth, but since I updated the firmware on the stupid iPhone to the latest iOS it's stopped working!!!! Needs an update I think. It was only a quick yep I'm on my way call I answered, but was enough wrong place wrong time etc! He said the powers to be will decide but they do offer a phone course, however there is no guarantee I'd be offered it. Just got to wait and see!! I see you got to declare courses to insurance now to, what a con, any excuse to hike your premium... :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 The £60 is nothing its the little offence code on your license Insurance goes up hundreds That's not entirely true... i got 3 points for mobil phone in 2012, and my insurance went up only £38 a year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Simple solution is, just don't answer it when you're driving. That way you won't get caught. It seems that a lot of people are compelled to answer their phones wherever they are and whatever they're doing. If you think its worth risking the consequences to answer a call, then it could turn out expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumpy69 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Have to agree with Kes. Although guilty of doing it myself how can you claim it does not affect your driving. On the daily commute we play a game of guess what is distracting the idiot (usually someone who cant keep the car straight or speed fluctuating or bit of both). It is a usually they are on the phone. How can you change gear with one hand, sear with one and hold the phone to your ear with one when you only have two hands? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Simple solution is, just don't answer it when you're driving. That way you won't get caught. It seems that a lot of people are compelled to answer their phones wherever they are and whatever they're doing. If you think its worth risking the consequences to answer a call, then it could turn out expensive. +1 Words of wisdom. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Haha I've been sat in a police car with an on duty copper driving whilst taking a call on her personal mobile! She said something like....... Oh I'll have to take this, I know I shouldn't but it's ok were on back lanes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDRsniper Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Out of curiosity, if the phone is in a cradle and you use the headphone cable in your ear is that classed as hands free? Don't really want to get into the rights or wrongs of having a conversation but wanted to know from any boys in blue or similar on this one. On a different note modern cars have all sorts of buttons and dials from sat nav to climate control, is it not distracting to adjust these whilst driving as many do? And finally my biggest hate are these people that drive in very thick Fog (like today) and don't put any lights on!!!....that should be three points immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) I remember the days before the law changed and I drove all the time whilst using a mobile phone along with the rest of the population. It's a miracle we're all alive to tell the tale. Indeed, I'm pretty sure that I could hop in a car tomorrow and have a conversation with a passenger or have another conversation by picking the phone up or making a blue tooth call and without crashing. No lives were at risk or people harmed in making this post. True story. I do not think that using a phone while driving on a strait road is that much of a problem but I see people going around roundabouts holding a phone or coming out of a junction using one hand not quite so bad if you drive an automatic but when you have to change gear as well I think it is plain stupid. The one thing that dose annoy me about this hole thing is years ago most roads had lay-bys so that you could pull off the road to answer or make a call but the powers that be in there wisdom decided to do away with most of them to stop travelers stopping in them forcing people to stop at the side of the road not really a good idea. I had to laugh yesterday I had to go in the council office and has to sit and wait my turn and behind me there was someone talking on his mobile I could not see him as he was behind me but he had the volume turned up so lowed that we could hear every word both of them said to be honest he was talking to a young woman/girl and talking in a smutty way everyone thought it was a strange thing to do it was only when he got called up to the counter for his turn that he switched it off and walked past me to my surprise he was not a young lad but guy in his late 50s. Edited March 13, 2014 by four-wheel-drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Having something in your hand is just part of the problem. The other part is the distraction it causes, either by the conversation, or looking at the phone (to text, or make a call) instead of the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Simple solution is, just don't answer it when you're driving. That way you won't get caught. It seems that a lot of people are compelled to answer their phones wherever they are and whatever they're doing. If you think its worth risking the consequences to answer a call, then it could turn out expensive. Absolutely bang on the money!! The phone ringing is just to alert the user that somebody wants to talk to them, nowadays it seems imperative that the call is answered no matter what, where or when. Ignorant people take and make calls in restaurants, cinemas and all manner of places apart from their vehicles. Pedestrians often walk straight out into the road while on the phone, texting or playing online games. I don't even answer my house phone every time it rings, if I'm in the middle of a meal I just leave it, the caller can leave a message or I can check the caller number later if I can be bothered. The reality of it is that we've reached a ludicrous level of accessibility with the advent of smarter and smarter phones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 My mate Gavin would have to disagree with most people about holding a phone to your ear and having a conversation while driving. Well I say he would disagree with you but unfortunately he can't Gavin was on his way to work on his motorbike and was travelling down a long hill,unfortunately half way down this hill there is a side road,and on that morning there was an idiot in a car with the phone held in one hand up to his ear having a conversation,he was so engrossed in the conversation that he hardly slowed for the junction and pulled out onto the hill. Gavin never stood a chance ,he couldn't drop the bike he was to close ,he hit the car and got launched over it landing on the road. Gavin didn't die straight away,he had massive internal injuries both his legs and arms were broken and he was in a coma,after 3 days they tried to stop his brain from swelling but failed and sadly he died. Gavin left behind his wife and his 4 year old son. The driver at court admitted he was engrossed in a conversation with his wife about what they were going to have for dinner that night. Gavin was one if those people that everyone liked,his funeral was huge bikers came from everywhere. Holding a phone to your ear and having a conversation,why do it, is it that important,if you have to use hands free it is slightly less distracting than holding the phone,but think about it, is the call that important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Agreed, sometimes the door bell goes. Hells bells, I'm not getting out of my chair without a prior appointment booked in the diary. What is this new modern fangled world coming to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Gavin left behind his wife and his 4 year old son. The driver at court admitted he was engrossed in a conversation with his wife about what they were going to have for dinner that night. Sorry about your friend. Was the driver prosecuted - and if so what did he get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 My mate Gavin would have to disagree with most people about holding a phone to your ear and having a conversation while driving. Well I say he would disagree with you but unfortunately he can't Gavin was on his way to work on his motorbike and was travelling down a long hill,unfortunately half way down this hill there is a side road,and on that morning there was an idiot in a car with the phone held in one hand up to his ear having a conversation,he was so engrossed in the conversation that he hardly slowed for the junction and pulled out onto the hill. Gavin never stood a chance ,he couldn't drop the bike he was to close ,he hit the car and got launched over it landing on the road. Gavin didn't die straight away,he had massive internal injuries both his legs and arms were broken and he was in a coma,after 3 days they tried to stop his brain from swelling but failed and sadly he died. Gavin left behind his wife and his 4 year old son. The driver at court admitted he was engrossed in a conversation with his wife about what they were going to have for dinner that night. Gavin was one if those people that everyone liked,his funeral was huge bikers came from everywhere. Holding a phone to your ear and having a conversation,why do it, is it that important,if you have to use hands free it is slightly less distracting than holding the phone,but think about it, is the call that important. Must have come as a great consolation to Gavins family, no doubt it lessened the sentence (if the driver even got locked up) as he admitted his guilt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpentermark Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) ... They haven't offered any to me,i got 3 points and £60 fine straight away, and as far as i'm aware, those courses are only for speed related offences, speed awarness course they call it if i'm not wrong... Yes you are wrong im afraid mate. I was caught last year using my phone, was offered the course and did it. It was THEE most boring day of my life and i lost a days pay, but still rather that than the points. Edited March 13, 2014 by carpentermark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 My cousin was knocked off his motor bike by a chinese bloke who by all accounts was a terrible driver. Alas, we don't appear to have banned Chinese people from driving or indeed terrible drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Must have come as a great consolation to Gavins family, no doubt it lessened the sentence (if the driver even got locked up) as he admitted his guilt. The driver did not go to jail,huge fine banned from driving and suspended sentence ,as you say admitted guilt, first offence,and the bloke was in his 60's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 ... Yes you are wrong im afraid mate. I was caught last year using my phone, was offered the course and did it. It was THEE most boring day of my life and i lost a days pay, but still rather that than the points. Well, good for you mate, i would grab the oportunity as well, but i didn't had the chance. Only time will clear the points now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 My cousin was knocked off his motor bike by a chinese bloke who by all accounts was a terrible driver. Alas, we don't appear to have banned Chinese people from driving or indeed terrible drivers. Poor defence. Being a bad driver is one thing,deliberately using a device that has been shown to distract you,and while you are holding it to your ear you are driving your car with only one hand so are not in full control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) "Distract" Are you distracted by a conversation? Which is legal via bluetooth, face to face and CB radio in the vehicle but illegal when via a mobile phone / piece of plastic held to the face (however, unlike CB radio, apparently) "Full control" Are you not in full control by picking up a phone / piece of plastic to your face? Which is illegal by mobile telephone but legal by CB radio, and bearing in mind that smoking a burning cigarette (and the process of lighting it) remains legal. Discuss. The law is the law granted, but it appears to me to be there for revenue generation and for the holier than thou brigade to get all wet over. Edited March 13, 2014 by Mungler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 "Distract" Are you distracted by a conversation? Which is legal via bluetooth, face to face and CB radio in the vehicle but illegal when via a mobile phone / piece of plastic held to the face (however, unlike CB radio, apparently) "Full control" Are you not in full control by picking up a phone / piece of plastic to your face? Which is illegal by mobile telephone but legal by CB radio, and bearing in mind that smoking a burning cigarette (and the process of lighting it) remains legal. Discuss. The law is the law granted, but it appears to me to be there for revenue generation and for the holier than thou brigade to get all wet over. Gavin would have loved to debate the point with you :( Need i say more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Gavin would have loved to debate the point with you :( Need i say more. Well, yes you do. That is the biggest cop out ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 One of the biggest mobile service providers sacks any staff member who talks on the phone while driving, hand free or not. What does that tell us? I admit that when I was out on the road working I was a massive user of the mobile while driving (I thought my skills were good and it posed no problem) post ban I stopped and started to notice that I could actually spot phone users before I saw them using the phone by the very way they drove and realised my previous error. Sneaky texters are very much more apparent in their driving IMO a far stiffer penalty should be applied to these, this real gets me. Its fine if you wish to risk your own life BUT when your driving on public highway you are risking the lives of others when you do something so dumb as use a phone. Hands free is no security from guilt if you in court charged with Death by dangerous driving and personally I find these things as distracting to my driving especially if its a conversation you need to think in, How long before you get here? is far easier than answering technical issues and you never quite know what that conversation is likely to be when you answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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