It is becuase trains don't crash everyday that it is big news when one does and the press go ape about it all.

Yes but as I have mentioned, the government actions are not working. The fatality figues in this country have stagnated and indeed went up last year. Speed cameras don't work. People need better driver training in the first place, more refresher courses and an incentive to drive better. When that principal was in place we saw year on year improvements in road safety which placed the UK at the top of the league table for safe roads. 10 years ago speed cameras and the "Speed Kills" message were introduced, they haven't worked, it's time to overhaul road safety en mass not just tinker about with bits around the edges.

There is no doubt that having a conversation on or dialling a phone distracts you far more that talking to a passenger or listening to the radio. Your attention is likely to be held for a longer period of time with the phone and that is when the ensuing disaster is likely to start happening.

I certainly agree that penalties for incorrect phone use should be increased enough to make people think twice before doing it.

Incidentally, the average daily death toll on our roads used to be around 20. So something has got better. Its not pedestrians for sure!

Les

Interesting.
 

The public has spoken. TBH I am quite surprised at the size of the majority who think mobile use is as bad or worse than speeding.

Anyway, won't worry me, as I have only spent £50 in 5 years on my PAYG.

So the govt. obviously thinks its important, as does SNet, a law has been passed, it will now be beefed up to act as a significant deterrent. Bring on the enforcement. Let's divert resources away from concentrating on speeding and act against the criminal phone users.

As many have said, it only takes 5 minutes at the side of any road to haul in a great number of offenders, what could be simpler? Cameras unfortunately :)

Road fatality figures in the UK have hardly changed in the last 10 years, they have been pretty static around the 60 per million mark. The improvement in vehicle safety for both passengers and with softer bumpers etc for pedestrians alone should have seen the figures decreasing. Sadly the "stick to the speed limit and switch your brain off" message that has been promoted for the last 10 years has manged to completely wipe out all of the effect from the safety improvements that car manufacturers have spent millions on.

Some manufacturers have spent millions on....saw the crash test results for a couple of Kias yesterday.. :eek: Would also be nice if more maufacturers concentrated on the 40% overlap type accidents that occur, rather than hurling it head on into a concrete wall.

Also - all these tests are only against concrete walls or clones - when you start looking at the accident damage from large -v- smaller cars (not even upto 4wds) it gets more scary. I'm off to get my Hummer!

See what 80Tonnes of military hardware does to a car at 55mph - not pretty!

I appreciate what you are saying about the type of crash testing, but much of that is stipulated by Europe and is what the manufacturers have to pass. I have no problem with the tests being modified to be more realistic, we may however bawk at the increased price of a car afterwards!

As I said in the lorry driver thread:

For quick EU comparison of accident statistics, look at the CARE database:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport...te/index_en.htm

I'm with you on that one, I have a Nokia CARK91 for my 6310 and I see no difference in using that than talking to a passenger, the only issue with it is finding a number to call :(

Paul

You can set at least 10 voice activation numbers in that phone. Once you have set it up you just keep the green button pressed, when the phone bleeps just speak their name.

Strange that when i use it, if i say Tosser, it rings my boss :)

If Paul says that it rings the w@nker that fancies his sister :D

Jasey

Pics should be accompanied with posts like that ;)

Ummmm.... well I just shopped a Taxi driver for causing me to slam my brakes on to avoid hitting him today.

He was on the phone, having a VERY animated conversation at a junction - and was drifting onto the road as I was coming down it... he stopped just as I slammed my brakes on.

Unfortunately for him I work for the company that does the IT support for the local council... so a quick phone call to Taxi Licencing, and then onto the local constabulary has me waiting to give a statement.

I think the Police have just started clamping down on this in our area.