pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

Mobile phones and driving is now points and a fine, so I thought I'd ask your opinions.

In my opinion, using your sat nav or smoking is much worse

We're talking about chatting on a phone not texting, that is a bit silly

As I see it I only ever use one hand whilst driving and I talk to people in the car with me, whats the difference ?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

All changed last Wednesday, now 3 points on the licence.

Keep up old chap

Brun

Smoking???? Doesn't really take your mind away from the road like a conversation down the phone. It does depend however what you're smoking

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

sorry the word NO should have been NOW

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

same as chatting to someone sitting next to you or over hands free

bob r

iTrader: (46)

Are people with one arm allowed to drive a car ?

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

Not whilst using a phone

The Snug Rhino

its not the holding the phone to the ear thats the issue - its the whole thing, dialling, looking at the screen, holding it, mind elsewhere.

ronjeramy

iTrader: (1)

texting as well

Brun

Chatting to someone next to you is totally different IMO.
FWIW, i don't agree with hands free kits either

StudentScooby

Is it 3 points for using sat nav?

paulwrxboro

what if you have an auto ?

r32

There are people being killed by idiots using phones. I cant believe any one with any sense at all thinks its OK.

I nearly got hit by a white van man who was on the phone last week, I was just waiting at the lights round he comes, one handed on the phone in no control at all.

Angels City Monger

I see at least 1 in 4 cars in Brighton where the driver is on the phone. They dont worry as they cant see the police having time to deal with it.

DCI Gene Hunt

Mobile phones.... police not bothered??

You're joking! why its the polices' new 'cash cow' all it needs is two officers a bend in the road at the begining of a busy road...... and da-dar...... an endless income stream of 30 quid a minute (1800 an hour)

They're already working on a CCTV system to do this automatically

PeteBrant

Spot on.

The level of concentration required when you are remote from the person you are talking to is far higher. Also, a passenger in the car will respond and talk when they think it is safe to do so - on a sub-concious level, they will not engage at moment that require the drivers heightened concentration, junctions etc. Someone on the phone will not be able to see what is going on in the car.

Hands free, really, are just as dangerous as holding a mobile phone. We can all drive one handed, and it doesnt really affect your driving - Its the concentration aspect that does.

Abdabz

We can all drive one handed, but when that kiddy steps out into the road, it may only take half a second to lift left hand off gearstick, grab wheel, control swerve, save kiddies life and stop.
When holding your phone, chatting to Baz about last nights lady conquest, kiddy steps out, you either spend another 2 seconds wondering where to throw your phone, do you throw it? where? oh sheeet...SPLAT...
Or you try to control your swerve one handed, dislocate your sholder, hit the kiddy and cry like a baby...
Obviously wording it as above to make a point... But it doesnt take a genius to work out that you cannot perform an emergency manouvre when holding a phone to your ear as quickly as when "looking cool" driving with one hand on your gear ****...

David Lock

I tootle around the countryside and keep a mobile on the passenger seat. Every now and again I take a call with a quick message and that's it. If I am in town I don't answer it. I don't think that is as dangerous as tuning the radio and probably equates to lighting a ***. Certainly safer than dialling out on a hands-free. It's the silly b*stards that dial out, chat away and text that cause the problems. dl

RUDDY

what i do think is insulting though is that your ment to turn the engine off?
do they really think were that stupid we go into an unconcious state where we are totally oblivious to whats going on just because were talking on a phone?
maybe some do and that would be the problem!

AER-SCOOBY

We don’t tolerate drink driving, using a phone is just as dangerous. Your reaction time is slowed down as you concentrate on the phone. Then what do you do when you come to junctions, roundabouts, changing gears etc while holding the phone? You have leave go of the steering wheel to select a gear and swap hands with the phone or you drive in front of someone who is already on the road, and put them at risk. I have seen this so many times, and still can’t believe it. Even saw this guy almost run a little girl over when crossing the road, he then had the cheek to get out of his car and shout at the girl for crossing.

Leslie

It is undeniable that having a conversation on a phone while driving reduces your concentration on the job in hand. I think that it should not be allowed even with hands free, just too easy to have an accident and the consequences are just not worth it as well as unfair on an innocent victim.

Les

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

Well judging by the reactions here I would banning drinking, eating and smoking should be next on the cards !

AER-SCOOBY

Actually, if you read the Highway code you shouldn't be doing any of the things listed above while driving a car.

OllyK

That's what voice tags are for!

OllyK

There is no need to ban those nor was there a need to introduce new legislation for phones. Driving Without Due Care would suffice in most cases for any of the above. The problem was/is there aren't enough coppers on the road to enforce it. A new law isn't going to change that and judging by the number of people I see using a hand held the general public know that.

Mick

iTrader: (1)

I hate to see people smoking in cars - especially with kids in the car. I normally let people out at busy junctions - but not if they've got a *** hanging off the steering wheel - I know, bizzare reaction - I could probably be arrested for discrimination in the current political climate

BUT - smoking can give you loss of control over the car if you drop your *** butt in your lap! - Don't laugh it does happen... - you only have to look at the number of vehicle dismantlers offfering seats for sale (from scrappers ) with 'only one small cigarette burn' - go figure how the car ended up at the 'recyclers'

Apparently the study that showed using a mobile phone to talk whilst driving showed it was equally bad whether you used hands free or held it to your ear - the government decided to only outlaw those who held the phone to their ears as they thought it would be too dificult to enforce against hands free usage

fatherpierre

There was a need.

Driving without due care means a court appearance.

The mobile phone £30 as was, and the £60 with points as now means it can all be done at the roadside, with court an option for the offender.

There still has to be coppers on the road to enforce any driving offence, including the tickets............ Until the cameras com in

Abdabz

I had such a burn in the drivers seat of a car I used to own. I didnt do it by dropping a cigarette on my lap when driving It was a cuffin hot rock from a cone I was smoking

David Lock

What on earth is a voice tag?

I am guessing it's a voice recognition thing??

Well the hand free kit I had fitted about 6 years ago at great expense certainly didn't run to that.