speedking

re: Government proposals to make the use of a mobile phone while driving a 3 point offence, as for speeding.

I can't help thinking that a mobile phone offence is not nearly as dangerous, or potentially damaging, as speeding. (I mean offences committed below the speed limit, as otherwise they would amount to mobile use and speeding.) Why can't it carry a 1 or 2 point penalty? To put it on a par with speeding offences is wrong IMO.

What do you think?

davegtt

same here, think 3 points is rediculous tbh, then again if u get caught driving with fone in hand u deserve some sort of punishment....

De Warrenne

Most mobile phone use is worse than speeding - 37 in a 30 past a school, or chatting away at the speed limit past the same school?


Can we change the poll please?

messiah

I think mobiles are more dangerous than speeding.

Daft Lad

Tricky one, I don't think all mobile phone-related offences should carry a 3 point penalty, it should be more dependant on the circumstances. i.e. using a mobile on a main road while sat in traffic may be seen as less dangerous than using one whilst on a motorway... Suppose the bottom line is that its the law and they shouldn't be used full stop no matter what road you're on!

paul-s

so what about someone chattin away on a long straight empty road or someone driving round built up roads with a lighter in one hand a *** in the other trying to steer and spark up. ay ? is that not as bad ? ?

jasey

It should carry more points than speeding.


If I'm driving at 140mph (Hypothetical before anyone starts) I'm concentrating on what I'm doing (Unless I'm a BMW Driver)

If i'm on the phone I'm not concentrating on driving.

The consequences of a high speed crash are likely to be greater - The likelyhood of a crash while not concentrating is greater.

jasey

ps Doesn't apply to women As they can do 5 million things at once of course

OllyK

IMO it is worse. Exceeding a speed limit is not necessarily dangerous.

It isn't really the "holding" that's the issue, it's trying to hold a discussion that involves concentration whilst driving, be that via mobile (hand held or otherwise) or with a passenger. They are a distraction from the task in hand which if done incorrectly can have fatal consequences.

Speeding should not have a fixed penalty associated with it, every case should be judged on the road conditions, the speed the vehicle was travelling, the type of road, the traffic levels etc it should then be a case of let off through to a ban depending on the case. However this involves going back to having "inteligent" police drivers on the roads picking up on how people are driving rather than relying on cameras. TBH they can put 10 points on using a mobile it won't make any difference as there is naff all chance you will get caught unless you happen to be speeding at the time.

Buzzer

speedking

There doesn't seem to be a facility to change the poll (for obvious reasons). Take option 1 to be Yes, mobile phone offence is as bad or worse than speeding..

Leslie

All the arguments to defend speeding say that speed does not kill because the drivers are more alert when they are travelling faster.

How about drivers becoming distracted because they are concentrating of their mobile phones just when an incident occurs which normally they could avoid when they are paying full attention to driving?

Of course the use of a mobile phone can be dangerous, I see instances of close ones very regularly due to drivers thinking they are clever enough to dial while they are driving or otherwise handling the phone when they should not be.

Les

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

I think that they are more dangerous than speeding, the amount of dizzy women that you see on the motorway drifting across the lanes are always on the phone Is it just me or are women worse than men for using a phone whilst driving?

I think you should have added that to your poll

Tentenths

My thought echo those of many others on here - mobile phone use is actually more of a danger.

jaycee

If it's a points offence then people will need car kits if they wish to continue talking on the move.
Result!! I think it's a great idea......! They should have a new advertising campaign, "talking,without handsfree,kills"!

jasey

And while we're at it

Other things more dangerous than speeding;

smoking,
eating,
shaving,
reading maps
tending to your kids.
holding me up.

messiah

I'll tell you 1 thing more dangerous than using a mobile while driving - parking your car in a stupid place (ie blind corners) and then having a natter.

If you're gonna use a mobile in a car you should be stationary and preferably in a layby.

messiah

I'll 2nd smoking as a finable offence too.

OllyK

Applying make up
Brushing hair in the rear view mirror
Flashing your **** (I'll let that one slide for now )

TelBoy

Ask the same question in the Rover 75 forum and you'd probably get a different answer...

Buzzer

.............. and more specifically for women, the application of the following:

eye shadow
lipstick
eyeliner
mascara
blusher
brushing hair
messing with fringe


and not to mention nose picking

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Everyone bleats about inappropriate speed is dangerous, the same can be said for mobiles.

Chatting to someone whilst crawling through a 5 mile tailback is just as dangerous as lighting a ***, eating a KitKat, tuning the radio, looking for totty in other vehicles etc

minor_threat

Worse than speeding! Whilst driving back from a meeting in Nottingham yesterday (3 hour drive) I saw: a man driving along with a map (presumably of Stoke city centre) completely covering the steering wheel; 7 individuals on mobile phones (3 were drifting across lanes, 1 nearly caused a pile up on the M6, the others were using them on a long straight road); a man wearing a cycle helmet whilst driving (I had to look twice because I thought I was seeing imaginary things!). At least you can be driving at 90mph and still pay full attention to what's going on around you, you can't drive at the speed limit and remain attentive whilst on the phone/reading a map.

AvalancheS8

It's worse for sure, although my personal pet hate is texting whilst driving - that should be a ban straight off. How many people would try to write or type something whilst driving ? Not many I'd guess, yet I see plenty of people driving along, trying to text someone as they go. It's frightening, they must have about 20% attention on their driving.

Brendan Hughes

Cue a massive list of posts in NSR saying "I got caught chatting briefly to my girlfriend in a traffic jam - when should NIP arrive?" and "Is it still a valid defence to say I can't remember who I was talking to?"

Peccant

I've never made anyone crash yet.......

Andy Hall

Small are they

Buzzer

This most perplexing, could you post a few piccies up for us to analyse and give a balanced judgement



Edited to add, ignore that last comment if they're like Spaniels ears

OllyK

Best one I have seen to date was at Santa Pod - BugJam. This lady parks up half way up the stip, ets her norks out, waves at the crowd and then sits back down and finish off her 1/4. 10 mins later the commentator comes on the tanoy complaining that he missed it and would she do another run. 10 minutes later there she was again Ahhh happy days!

Comper100

No different to changing a tape, talking to a passenger, sat nav or smoking whilst driving, they all take your eye of the ball to one degree or another.

Ban the LOT, radios, ****, wing mirrors, passngers, dogs in the boot, window stickers, maps, sat nav, cb radios, chewing gum. Put a law on the lot or take the bus

Comper100