Is it me?

[woodbloke]

I walk to work each day and often look at the car drivers passing :wink: :wink: I have seen an increasing use of hand held mobile phones being used when the vehicle is travelling. What worries me is that a little piece on AOL t'other day revealed that research in the US of A had found that the use of hand held and hands free mobiles by the driver of a car is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol - Rob

 

[nickson71]

It is worrying ........... The laws forbid it but if rule are not enforced what stopping people using the phones

I personally never answer my mobile when in the car..... I either phone back when I'm at my destination, pull over at a safe place or if the other half is in the car I get her to answer

The number of times I've seen appalling driving due to some prat on their phone is worrying to say the least

Ian

 

[dedee]

Rob,
when I see a driver on a mobile in my rear view mirror the devil in me wants to slam on my brakes :lol: Of course the little angel in me wins but I do wish I could teach them a lesson.

Andy

 

[woodbloke]

dedee wrote:

but I do wish I could teach them a lesson

I never use mine in the car when driving. The law on seat belts and alcohol are obeyed now by the vast majority of motorists, but it seems we still have to come to terms with the use of mobiles in motors. Personally I would like to see the police impose an on the spot fine of £250 - Rob

 

[Alf]

Travelling in a car with my brother a couple of days ago was an education. In one twenty minute journey he took two phone calls (including plugging in the hands-free wotsit to facilitate same), changed the cd that was playing three times and programmed the sat nav. I kept my eye on the road 'cos I figured one of us had better... :roll: :lol: Then there was the lady eating what appeared to be a Pot Noodle while driving in the middle lane of the M25, which was a sight to see.

I mean fancy eating a Pot Noodle in public...

Cheers, Alf

 

[Taffy Turner]

Rob,
when I see a driver on a mobile in my rear view mirror the devil in me wants to slam on my brakes :lol: Of course the little angel in me wins but I do wish I could teach them a lesson.

Andy

Just do what I do - switch your rear fog lights on. Doesn't half wake them up!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Taffy

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Andy

Rob,
when I see a driver on a mobile in my rear view mirror the devil in me wants to slam on my brakes :lol: Of course the little angel in me wins but I do wish I could teach them a lesson.

I know exactly how you feel. :twisted:

Cheers
Neil

 

[dedee]

Then there was the lady eating what appeared to be a Pot Noodle while driving in the middle lane of the M25, which was a sight to see.

It's all down to common sense you see. Unless we have a law banning the eating of pot noodles while driving some people will think it is a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

I would like to see electronics in the car to block the signal unless the hands-free car-kit is used or the ignition is turned off.

We have looked at this and it is easy to do - just needs a government with some gumption and guts

 

[Paul Chapman]

Travelling in a car with my brother a couple of days ago was an education. In one twenty minute journey he took two phone calls (including plugging in the hands-free wotsit to facilitate same), changed the cd that was playing three times and programmed the sat nav. I kept my eye on the road 'cos I figured one of us had better... :roll: :lol: Then there was the lady eating what appeared to be a Pot Noodle while driving in the middle lane of the M25, which was a sight to see.

That sketch of Mr Bean getting dressed while driving his Mini isn't so far fetched when you look at what goes on in real life on the roads every day :roll:

Paul

 

[Adam]

I would like to see electronics in the car to block the signal unless the hands-free car-kit is used or the ignition is turned off.

We have looked at this and it is easy to do - just needs a government with some gumption and guts

Other than the protestations about having an additional transmitter in your car to block the signal (Just wait till the anti-mobile phone mast catch up with that one?)?

Or metallised glass with an external antenna which is switched? Just imagine the cost!

Of course, you could add the electronics to the mobile, but that also wouldn't be easy given the amount of cars, and mobiles already in use.

Adam*

Who, before walking to work used to drive up the motorway to work, and twice overtook a lady applying makeup, driving no hands and looking in the rearview mirror to ensure the lipstick was in the right place.

 

[Paul Chapman]

and twice overtook a lady applying makeup, driving no hands and looking in the rearview mirror to ensure the lipstick was in the right place.

Twice? - did you go back for a second look :lol:

Paul

 

[tim]

I would like to see electronics in the car to block the signal unless the hands-free car-kit is used or the ignition is turned off.

I think I've already got this fitted!

Whats more concerning round here is that its the big livestock lorries and farm vehicles that seem to be driven one handed because of perpetual phone use.


Alf: What on earth were you doing 'up England'?

Cheers

Tim

 

[StevieB]

but I do wish I could teach them a lesson

Easy, ride a motorbike and take their wing mirror off as you pass with a swipe of your left hand.

Not that I would ever do anything like that you understand......

Steve

 

[Alf]

Alf: What on earth were you doing 'up England'?

Reminding myself there are worse places to be stuck in the middle of than Pasty Country, I think. :roll: :lol:

 

[Corset]

Just to be a little bit contriversal. I am a small ish business and while i always use a handsfree kit i take many calls upwards of thirty a day in my car (my office phone diverts to my mobile) I have never had a accident, speeding ticket etc. I drive 95% inner city nottingham in the shottingham areas. I find the biggest worry for me is the number of uninsured drivers on the road particularly those driving crap cars with no brakes etc.
Call me arrogant but i feel i can talk and drive at the same time. Its this ability to multi task that makes us above from the animals.
I :shock: expect that will prompt some disagreement from some of you.

 

[StevieB]

Corset, if you are using a hands free kit then thats fine (well, legal anyway). Its the people that have a phone in one hand, take notes with the other, steer with their knees and watch the road ahead and behind with half an eye that worry me!

I spend three hours a day commuting by motorbike, much of it filtering through slow moving motorway traffic (M25 = worlds largest carpark sometimes). I wish I got £30 everytime I saw someone using a mobile - I could retire in a year Personally I cannot see it getting any better - its difficult to police and prove, much easier to trap speeders. Same with uninsured drivers, although the tie in with DVLA and MOTs / insurance coupled with ANPR (automatic numberplate recognition cameras) is helping.

Not entirely convinced that being able to drive and talk on the phone is what seperates us from the other animals, an opposable thumb, large brain capacity (in most cases 8-[ ) and ability to migrate into and survive a wide range of different environments are more liekly I would have thought :twisted:

Take care out there,

Steve.

 

[DaveL]

i feel i can talk and drive at the same time.

I agree with you, if you couldn't then passengers would need to be fitted with gags before getting in to the car. :shock: :roll: (Think there might a Les Dawson joke in there somewhere. :twisted: )

I take calls in the car, with a hands free kit. For part of my job I am Duty Manager, 24*7 for 1 week in 4, if I could not take calls then I would be stuck for providing the cover.

I also use GPS, but set it up before starting out. This is a major safety benefit when going to new places, I don't have to worry about missing a turning as it will work out a new route on the fly. I can remember trying to navigate with maps and notes, they only work if there are no road works or accidents. Trying to find somewhere to pull over to look for a new route can be very stressful and dangerous. 8-[ Now the GPS just gives the new directions having thought about it for only 10 or 20 seconds. 8)

 

[Les Mahon]

The law on seat belts and alcohol are obeyed now by the vast majority of motorists

This is the bit I don't understand about penalty points - they have just introduced 31 new penalty points offences here in Ireland(including driving on the phone), and everyone is in a heap about it, but the reality is that it was always against the law, but never properly enforced and I see no reason why it will be now that they can give you penalty points for it.

Statistics published today show that sice they went from 4 points offences to 31 points offences they are issuing on average 10% more points - yet 5 people were killed in the last 24 hours on Irish roads it makes no sense to me. I belive that the mobile phone issue will only be solved when it becomes "socially unacceptable" in the same way that drink driving is becoming.

Les - who got penalty points 3 weeks ago for speeding my fault I have no problem with it, I was accelerating before the end of a built up area and I can live with 2 points per 100,000 miles driven which is my current ratio.

 

[ike]

Corset wrote:

I find the biggest worry for me is the number of uninsured drivers on the road particularly those driving crap cars with no brakes etc.

My biggest worry as a commuting cyclist is drivers using their mobiles while driving, hands free or not.

Call me arrogant.

Yes I will then. Research studies shows reaction times when using a mobile while driving is akin to being over the limit. Why do you think that doesn't apply to you?. Are you somehow physiologically superior to Mr Average in that respect?

Ike