Texting and driving

[Big Err]

Love this thread but heres a thing, why, if you cannot use a phone whilst driving (I never have and never will) does my minibus have a slot for my mobile and even more worrying why is it seemingly just out of reach?

It's a form of torture. Have you ever noticed that your mobile rings for what seems like ages when you are trying to ignore it, but only rings for a short time when you're trying to find it to answer it.

[IVORTHE DRIVER]

As I drive the A77 in Ayrshire on a regular basis it never ceases to amaze me the antics some drivers pull, ie, the lorry driver I met with phone in one hand and notepad in the other doing 50mph!
And I agree, why do we see them and the police do not, paperwork issues maybe?

[drivingschoolnewbury]

I seem to remember a case a number of years ago of a woman who stopped at traffic lights, took a swig from a bottle of water and put it down before she prepared to drive off. A police officer was sat next to her at the lights and she was prosecuted presumably for dangerous driving or without due care!!!!

[TripleS]

I seem to remember a case a number of years ago of a woman who stopped at traffic lights, took a swig from a bottle of water and put it down before she prepared to drive off. A police officer was sat next to her at the lights and she was prosecuted presumably for dangerous driving or without due care!!!!

Yes, a complete nonsense. Some people - including a small proportion of police officers - are just not suited to having power over others. Prosecuting that woman probably did more harm than good.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[ROG]

I was invited to speak on radio leicester last week on the subject of mobile phones whilst driving and the penalties for those that were caught

I said this -
The law was ill thought out and should have been - no using a mobile phone whether hands free or not unless the hand/park brake was fully applied

I also said that current penalty was not enough and maybe the crushing of the phone, but removing the sim card first, would make the perosn think twice about doing it again as it would cause a big inconvenience

[jont]

I also said that current penalty was not enough and maybe the crushing of the phone, but removing the sim card first, would make the perosn think twice about doing it again as it would cause a big inconvenience

Sounds like my bucket method for the classroom - SWMBO as a teacher has to regularly deal with kids using phones in lessons. I keep suggesting they should be allowed to have a bucket of water at the front of the class. Pupil caught using a phone - goes in the bucket - you can have it back at the end of the lesson

[TripleS]

I was invited to speak on radio leicester last week on the subject of mobile phones whilst driving and the penalties for those that were caught

I said this -
The law was ill thought out and should have been - no using a mobile phone whether hands free or not unless the hand/park brake was fully applied

I also said that current penalty was not enough and maybe the crushing of the phone, but removing the sim card first, would make the perosn think twice about doing it again as it would cause a big inconvenience

Yes well, you could of course consider taking a hard line about it....

....but what would you do about the use of hand held communication devices by police drivers and ambulance drivers/paramedics etc.?

You're right about this law being ill thought out, but I'd say the mistakes are not what you think they are.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[ROG]

....but what would you do about the use of hand held communication devices by police drivers and ambulance drivers/paramedics etc.?

Ensure they had specific training for it

[brianhaddon]

....but what would you do about the use of hand held communication devices by police drivers and ambulance drivers/paramedics etc.?

Ensure they had specific training for it

So if they have training why not Joe Public?

Regards
Brian Haddon

[WhoseGeneration]

....but what would you do about the use of hand held communication devices by police drivers and ambulance drivers/paramedics etc.?

Ensure they had specific training for it

Olden days, single crewed, in one hand a mic, the other hand, the steering wheel.
In pursuit.
Why would anyone, not in the emergency services, need to have any telephonic communications with any other whilst driving?
Simple, phones rings, you pull over and stop in a safe place, then respond.
I have never understood how so many are slave to the phone.

[Gareth]

Why would anyone, not in the emergency services, need to have any telephonic communications with any other whilst driving?
Simple, phones rings, you pull over and stop in a safe place, then respond.
I have never understood how so many are slave to the phone.

Presumably you'd also ban the use of CB, ham and PMR radios while driving?

[ROG]

....but what would you do about the use of hand held communication devices by police drivers and ambulance drivers/paramedics etc.?

Ensure they had specific training for it

So if they have training why not Joe Public?

Regards
Brian Haddon

Nothing to stop joe public from having the right training but that would probably involve doing the advanced test first so that their driving could be at a certain standard before strating any other training

Me thinks joe public will not go for that

[ScoobyChris]

I said this -
The law was ill thought out and should have been - no using a mobile phone whether hands free or not unless the hand/park brake was fully applied

I think we could extend this to ban all conversation in cars, listening to the radio, giving a commentary, etc, etc.

At the end of the day, we have laws covering careless and dangerous driving - do we really need to be more specific?

Chris

[ROG]

I said this -
The law was ill thought out and should have been - no using a mobile phone whether hands free or not unless the hand/park brake was fully applied

I think we could extend this to ban all conversation in cars, listening to the radio, giving a commentary, etc, etc.

At the end of the day, we have laws covering careless and dangerous driving - do we really need to be more specific?

Chris

I do not hold with the comparison between using a mobile phone and the other forms of distraction you mentioned

Mobile phones are a particular scourge on driving distraction which is why specific laws were brought in

At one time drivers thought that being a bit drunk was ok!!

[GJD]

Why would anyone, not in the emergency services, need to have any telephonic communications with any other whilst driving?

What has need got to do with it?