Cars/phones

[Pistol p]

People just don't have the willpower and resolve to put the phone in the boot and get on with the driving. Its beome all too easy and they've all become too complacent.

Lack of willpower, common decency and consideration. The sources of all the problems we face in Great Britain today.

[Gordon R]

The best way is to ban all phone users (when driving a vehicle) for 6 months, then 3 years for a second offence, as well as a hefty fine

 

 

If the Government is serious about tackling the problem - it needs something more than six points and a stiff warning on cardboard.

[Danger-Mouse]

Must admit i reallt don't see the problem with it, can't see how its any more distracting than speaking to someone in the passenger seat or having screaming weans in the back or a lose pet running about or singing to the radio.

Really can't see how its in the same league as driving drunk

 

There is a lot of poor driving about generally nowadays anyway (esp on small country roads or in snow/ice) but thats a lack of common sense

 

Studies show that it engages a part of the brain that would usually be concentrated on driving. I tend to believe they are accurate. I remember many years ago, before it became illegal, I tapped out a text whilst driving up the M1. Having sent said text I realised I had no recollection of the driving I'd done over the last couple of miles. I don't know why it's more distracting than holding a conversation with someone who is in the car with you, but on the whole that does seem to be the case.

 

People just don't have the willpower and resolve to put the phone in the boot and get on with the driving. Its beome all too easy and they've all become too complacent.

Lack of willpower, common decency and consideration. The sources of all the problems we face in Great Britain today.

 

True to an extent. However some of us do need our phones on whilst driving. The answer is to either use bluetooth, or to pull over and take the call/answer the text.

[Scully]

Must admit i reallt don't see the problem with it, can't see how its any more distracting than speaking to someone in the passenger seat or having screaming weans in the back or a lose pet running about or singing to the radio.

Really can't see how its in the same league as driving drunk

 

There is a lot of poor driving about generally nowadays anyway (esp on small country roads or in snow/ice) but thats a lack of common sense

Really? But speaking to a passenger isn't illegal....yet. Speaking on your mobile while driving, is.

If the culprits car was seized immediately and on the spot, and impounded for 24 hours, with all the consequences that such a thing may entail, was enforced, it may just make people sit up and take notice.

[Dougy]

I really can't see anything that is that important that a call must be taken whilst driving.

How did businesses exist before the ability to have 24 hour a day contact with its employees. And if it's management calling staff away from work then I would say that's weak management and poor staff.

But that's not the topic though is it.

Just seen on the news the footage of the lorry driver on his phone searching for music, he killed a mother and 2 children. Don't try and tell me your calls are imporant when that's happening far to often.

[Chris B123]

Is it still legal to use a CB radio?

[timmytree]

I'm sure I read somewhere that a police force was trialing a scheme where the public send in dash cam footage of people using phones or bad driving, tailgating etc and they use it to prosecute, if successful they would roll it out UK wide.

I recently wondered if police could prosecute on dash cam type footage. if so, they only need a few nondescript cars driving round with high resolution cameras to catch loads every day. The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned.

Before anyone says "anti motorist" I'd like to point out that my youngest got knocked over by a lorry last year and spent some weeks in hospital in a bad way. His fault for not paying attention crossing the road, too interested in his blasted phone. I feel sorry for the lorry driver.

[pegasus bridge]

I still think it's worse to have two kids in the car than make a handsfree call ...

[Rupert]

Is it still legal to use a CB radio?

Can you still buy a CB radio good buddy?

[Danger-Mouse]

Can you still buy a CB radio good buddy?

 

Affirmative!

[Scully]

I still think it's worse to have two kids in the car than make a handsfree call ...

I'd probably agree, but again, having two kids in the car isn't illegal and as far as I know hasn't been the direct cause of killing someone, or at least not with the same frequency as talking on a mobile while driving.

[Wymondley]

A van nearly ran into the back of me last week, driver was resting his wrists on the steering wheel whilst texting.

That's stupid beyond belief.

 

The answer is more plod to enforce the existing laws, not raise the penalty.

[scotslad]

 

Studies show that it engages a part of the brain that would usually be concentrated on driving. I tend to believe they are accurate. I remember many years ago, before it became illegal, I tapped out a text whilst driving up the M1. Having sent said text I realised I had no recollection of the driving I'd done over the last couple of miles. I don't know why it's more distracting than holding a conversation with someone who is in the car with you, but on the whole that does seem to be the case.

 

 

True to an extent. However some of us do need our phones on whilst driving. The answer is to either use bluetooth, or to pull over and take the call/answer the text.

 

There is a very big difference between texting and talking on a phone thou.

I'd never dream of texting. But u do see folk doing it.

 

I really don't see why it should be made a specific offence texting yes but playing with a sat nav, radio or even eating/drinking or smoking could all be far more distracting.esp if u dropped food/drink or fag onto urself/seat

 

In my opinion just an easy collar for the polis, easy points and fines

[subsonicnat]

They have had the opportunity to send a real message to these people who use phones while driving.

It is my belief they have missed an opportunity to send a real message to all that flount this law.

People are being killed and probably maimed by these mindless idiots who do it..

It is not really strong enough,on the phone lose your licence as well as a very stiff fine.

Caught twice your licence is revoked for life..

THEY KILL PEOPLE..

[mel b3]

 

Before anyone says "anti motorist" I'd like to point out that my youngest got knocked over by a lorry last year and spent some weeks in hospital in a bad way. His fault for not paying attention crossing the road, too interested in his blasted phone. I feel sorry for the lorry driver.

 

 

i drive a bin lorry and this is my worst nightmare , kids especially (and some adults) , just dont realise how dangerous lorries(or any vehicle) can be.

 

when it comes to , texting or talking on the phone , or drink driving , the penalties arent what stop me from doing it , the thing that stops me from doing it is the thought of having to look a parent in the eye after id taken the life of their child , even if it wasnt my fault , i still wouldnt be able to live with myself.

[Davyo]

Possibly more unmarked cars because as a civilian on a normal commutes I've seen everything from mobile phones used to paperwork been completed by reps.Was at traffic lights a few weeks ago and the lights went to green and no one went anyware because the woman in the front car was applying make up!

What gets me is these people think nothing about spending £500/£600 on the latest phones but won't even cough up £30 for a Bluetooth (the super toothbuddy can be bought for £29.00)

Edited March 1, 2017 by Davyo

[shaun4860]

Drink driving should be a one strike offence, get banned. Do it again and it's a lifetime ban.

Can only agree with this although it still wouldn't stop it

 

[amateur]

Everyone will keep doing it because there is zero police presence on the roads these days.

 

Hurrah!

 

I saw a Met spotter lorry and Met car this afternoon nicking a driver for using a phone whilst driving.

I was walking the dogs next to the A2 and got a grandstand view

[UKPoacher]

Can only agree with this although it still wouldn't stop it

 

 

In France it is a three stage process; first offence = 1 year ban. 2nd offence is (I think) three year ban and third conviction is a lifetime ban. That means they can then only drive the 'Sans Permis' cars that are the size of dodgem cars and only do 40 kph. My friend used to call the 'San Permis' the naughty cars but these days there are more and more Romanians driving them as you don't need a driver's licence to drive one.

 

Hurrah!

 

I saw a Met spotter lorry and Met car this afternoon nicking a driver for using a phone whilst driving.

I was walking the dogs next to the A2 and got a grandstand view

 

Have you noticed the flickering screens that you can see in lorry cabs being driven at night? They are watching TVs

[subsonicnat]

Couple of months back,a guy passed me in a white 7cwt van.

Told my misses nver see police when its needed,,10 secs later an unmarked car with blue lights in the grill pulled him over...It made my day..

[buze]

I always find it amazing that it's often people with posh cars *that have bluetooth* that have a phone to their ear. They are not only stupid to be on the phone, but they are stupider for not being able to configure their damn phone/car pairing.

 

Remember guys, these people also vote.

 

I always cut short any bluetooth call I have in the car; as someone mentioned, I can *never* remember any driving miles when I'm on the phone, it's uncanny. So I do a yes/no/call you later etc and hang up.

 

As far as enforcement goes, I'd rather have police tracking people who change lane without signals OR hog the middle lane. There are millions of them and nobody gives a damn.

 

In france if you are caught for either offence you get points.

[UKPoacher]

 

As far as enforcement goes, I'd rather have police tracking people who change lane without signals OR hog the middle lane. There are millions of them and nobody gives a damn.

 

In france if you are caught for either offence you get points.

 

Nobody hogs the middle lane in France. When they overtake you they scrape your back bumper and then scrape your front bumper as they pull in in front of you. I regularly see cars overtake a string of lorries popping into each gap between them and indicate every lane change even when its blindingly obvious. I reckon they are taxed on outside lane usage

[digger]

I have Bluetooth in my van, the phone auto connects when I get in. I only answer about 5% of any calls when driving. All done on the steering wheel remote.

The amount of people I see daily using their phone runs to dozens, I can usually guess by the late response when the traffic moves or swerving when they look at the screen. Doing the school run this morning I pulled up next to a woman who was on Facebook. Totally oblivious to everything.

[scotslad]

I'm surprised how seriously some of u view it.

 

I'd rather have far more polis on the roads pulling folk for genunie dangerous driving no matter wot they were doing.

 

Only 25 or so years ago we hardly managed a monday morning drive to work without being pulled, early morning starts and a load of young blokes in a van, used to see heaps of trafic polis down the M6 in them days they had a lot of range rovers, but even along the A65 or scotch corner roads plenty of traffic cars

[buze]

 

Nobody hogs the middle lane in France. When they overtake you they scrape your back bumper and then scrape your front bumper as they pull in in front of you. I regularly see cars overtake a string of lorries popping into each gap between them and indicate every lane change even when its blindingly obvious. I reckon they are taxed on outside lane usage

 

You don't signal because it's "necessary". You signal because *you don't know it might be necessary or not* that's the whole point of the french system, and why its' an offence. You are nor omnipotent, there might be someone in your blind spot, or a motorbike you haven't seen, etc. A LOT safer to signal 'unnecessarily'. There's no extra macho points about not signaling, it's pure laziness of mind. Exactly like driving for 2:30 hours in the middle lane ignoring *everything* that happens around you, as many do.