Using Mobile whilst driving
Comments
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I agree with you, TB, that even hands free is a distraction. I talk with joy about my toy but very rarely use it. It's there for very important/emergency situations only.
It would be hypocritical of me to decry waving at MHs as a distraction (as I have done many a time) if I then made use of my hands free set up as a matter of course.
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I have a modern version of hands free with voice activation, and whilst not arguing that even that can be a distraction, It's no more so than a passenger talking or the kids wailing or even the music blaring.
Ideal environment for driving is on your own with complete silence ......... but I talk to the dog, my passenger(s) and have the music turned on.
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Yes blue tooth in cars great invention, we love ours but we have seen many in an up to date car who have it. but they seem to prefer texting Idiots !
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"although I do think people have always taken their eyes off the road for some reason or another."
Precisely why we don't wave to MHs, Pippah. There are already enough distractions without creating more.
Write your comments here...But waving to MHs shows that you are aware of what is on the road coming towards you. Not just another vehicle but what type and size.
Do you not wave an acknowledgement to a driver who lets you out at a junction or flashes to allow you to pull out into the lane he/she is in if you are wanting to overtake a vehicle in front of you? This is a LOT different to using a mobile phone or similar
device, for whatever reason, whilst driving.Banning the use of mobiles, or other similar devices, in all vehicles by blocking the signal would be very unfair to passengers and could not be enforced. Any such blocking device could only be fitted to new vehicles, not existing ones. Would some vehicles,
such as taxis, expect to be exempt?0 -
"Not just another vehicle but what type and size."
I'm aware of a big white vehicle. That's all I need to know.
Let's not rake it up again here. You can always read previous threads if you want.
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This video highlights what is "important"
https://www.facebook.com/DrivingSpain/videos/500413180146039/
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what's the difference between a conversation via a phone & a 2 way radio?
The one via the 2-way radio is legal.
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going back some 35 years when at work my company fit all us techs with car phones from that day to this i have never answered the car phone while driving much to the disgust of the office.Or for that matter made a call while driving malc
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There seem to be a very large number of people posting here, who have no idea of the difference between cars equipped for hands free calling and manually using a phone. My phone travels in my handbag. Calling and music are activated by steering wheel mounted controls. Called number and music selection is managed through voice controls, none of which gives rise to taking your eyes off the road. Judging by some posts here, drivers should be banned from talking to passengers, listening to music or, heaven forbid, listening to radio 4. There's a world of difference between using a 2 way radio handset, changing radio station by hand on a car radio, or swapping a CD. Finding the switches for my fog lights is more distracting than initiating a phone call, or answering one - neither of which I do when involved in activities which involve extra concentration such as junctions and route changes. Next we'll have people attacking the use of SatNavs. Maybe if you can't multi task you should be reconsider your ability to do more than drive in silence, but quite a few of us are capable of listening to music or talking while driving.
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There may be a lot of difference but there is a Mother in this area whose young son was killed by a driver talking on hands free and she is calling for ALL mobile phone use to be banned. I have handsfree as described above but I do know I can't handle a
very tricky situation on the road and continue conversing. Anyone who says they can handle ANYTHING on the road while discussing business stuff on their mobile is kidding themselves. This doesn't mean I don't use the handsfree - I am just careful where and
when.0 -
I completely agree Pippah. The instruction for prioritisation when flying aeroplanes is - aviate, navigate, communicate in that order - or drive safely first, then navigate then communicate while driving a car. It's only a fool who prioritises talking on
the phone while negotiating a busy situation or even a school. There's no substitute for common sense, though we find it absent on far too many occasions.0 -
Pippah- you are so right! I always seem to miss these conversations! The biggest killer on the road now is the mobile phone. Although I have to communicate with my contol room when driving and everything is Bluetooth and on the steering wheel to facilitate easy use, I have ignored it when driving in any particularly difficult or stressful situation. The world didnt stop turning. Wait until less stressed, you have time to think and you can fully concentrate on the driving. Parked up might come into this category! I will never forget the video we were shown on the advanced driving course of mobile phone use whilst driving- Stuff of nightmares! Please people- don't even touch the thing whilst driving- it may be the last thing you do!
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Or the last thing someone else does if you kill them
There have been too many innocent people killed by mobile phone users in cars and
lorries of course - recently. It would ruin my life if I hurt someone else - never mind theirs. We all need to remember that we are in charge
of lethal weapons but I am sure its the converted here.0 -
I have a modern version of hands free with voice activation, and whilst not arguing that even that can be a distraction, It's no more so than a passenger talking or the kids wailing or even the music blaring.
Ideal environment for driving is on your own with complete silence ......... but I talk to the dog, my passenger(s) and have the music turned on.
When I drive, I have the radio on or any passenger I may have is talking, I rarely ever listen to them. To me its background noise and nothing else. If asked at the end of my journey what my passengers talked about or what music was played on the radio,
I would lose miserably as I never listen to them. I'm too busy watching the road0 -
This video highlights what is "important"
https://www.facebook.com/DrivingSpain/videos/500413180146039/
I too put it in my bit of chat - the 2 second rule. A whole lot of nightmare can happen in that time frame. In fact, it should be made compulsory to use this video when doing your theory test and be tested on what is happening in these scenes
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Had to slam y brakes on today to avoid an accident because someone was using a mobile and not concentrating. The thing is it was a Pedestrian who wandered off the pavement into the road with his head down looking at his phone. Even after scaring the **** out of him with my horn he still looked around to see who had done something wrong! These phone addicts (including those using them for music reasons) are dangerous knuckleheads.
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I saw in the paper the other day someone suggesting making available some sort of technology which would block the use of mobile phones while driving. Maybe the boffins could come up with something of that sort which would block the use of phones while the
car engine is switched on.0 -
Our DIL is under the impression that useing hands free is only the same as talking to to a passenger in the car?, when we say that a passenger can normally see the road as well ,where as the one on the other end of the phone has no idea of your situation that their conversation is distracting
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Using hands-free devices when driving
You can use hands-free phones, sat navs and 2-way radios when you’re driving or riding. But if the police think you’re distracted and not in control of your vehicle you could still get stopped and penalised.
From personal experience and having used mobiles in vehicles for over 20yrs, (back in the days of the brick!) It is Dangerous to use any device that takes your mind off the task of driving whilst mobile.
I have frequently in the past while on a phone call suddenly found that i had no real recollection of the journey i had just driven. (and I have taken numerous safe driving courses including those required to drive emergency vehicles)How anyone can say it is not a distraction to use your mobile hands free or not is kidding themselves on their capabilities. Surely people’s lives including your own are far more valuable than any phone call you think you
Must make.
Which is why my phone is now on silent in the car and only check it when stopped. Peoples lives are worth far more than any phone call!!
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I saw in the paper the other day someone suggesting making available some sort of technology which would block the use of mobile phones while driving. Maybe the boffins could come up with something of that sort which would block the use of phones while the
car engine is switched on.This has been suggested before but how would such a protocol differentiate between a driver and a passenger.
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I saw in the paper the other day someone suggesting making available some sort of technology which would block the use of mobile phones while driving. Maybe the boffins could come up with something of that sort which would block the use of phones while the
car engine is switched on.This has been suggested before but how would such a protocol differentiate between a driver and a passenger.
...Even if a passenger is on the phone it is a distraction for the person driving,as it is only a one ended conversation that is being carried out,
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This is not going to go down well but I do think that we have look at this a bit more carefully.
I have no reservation in stating categorically that I believe the use of hand held mobile phones whilst driving is dangerous and anti social. I also agree with the member who suggested that the Police should be able to seize and crush the phones of those found using them. The act of Txting is even worse as it takes eyes of the road for even longer.
BUT I do have reservations about also condeming drivers who have fully automatic hands free systems built into their car. I have read the contra views but I still remain unconvinced that they are more dangerous than talking to a passenger or driving with unruly kids etc. Remember too that whatever is decided, it has to be enforceable and there is almost no-one to do that today.
I think we have to look at what is acheviable and what will whatever we legislate for, will be ignored by many as unreasonable etc.
Perhaps we should look outside the box and strive to make such communications better, - to build hands free systems that are even better, cause less distraction and require less effort to initiate etc. Recognise that in this day & age people will always require the ability to be in touch, and to find ways of making it better and safer!
TF
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Good post, TF.
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This is not going to go down well but I do think that we have look at this a bit more carefully.
I have no reservation in stating categorically that I believe the use of hand held mobile phones whilst driving is dangerous and anti social. I also agree with the member who suggested that the Police should be able to seize and crush the phones of those found using them. The act of Txting is even worse as it takes eyes of the road for even longer.
BUT I do have reservations about also condeming drivers who have fully automatic hands free systems built into their car. I have read the contra views but I still remain unconvinced that they are more dangerous than talking to a passenger or driving with unruly kids etc. Remember too that whatever is decided, it has to be enforceable and there is almost no-one to do that today.
I think we have to look at what is acheviable and what will whatever we legislate for, will be ignored by many as unreasonable etc.
Perhaps we should look outside the box and strive to make such communications better, - to build hands free systems that are even better, cause less distraction and require less effort to initiate etc. Recognise that in this day & age people will always require the ability to be in touch, and to find ways of making it better and safer!
TF
Write your comments here... Yes, good post. - Brian, I agree that hands free systems are safer- no doubt about it BUT it really is up to the individual driver to sort out in his head if even using a hands free system is safe or if there is an element of distraction - therefore danger even when using such a system. Driving down a straight country road at 50 miles an hour is far safer than say 20 mph around Hyde Park Corner. I have the answer and hang up button (same button) on my steering wheel and I can't imagine anything easier but I have in the past answered the phone when in a stressful situation on the road. The net result was that I was concentrating so hard on the road that I had completely forgotten what control had told me and I found myself in the embarrassing position of having to park up and ask them what they had said!! That's why I now ignore it when necessary. The driver is the only one that can make the decision- that's where the problems start!!
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I have frequently in the past while on a phone call suddenly found that i had no real recollection of the journey i had just driven. .....I used to have the same recollection of journies I made to Rosyth in the early hours of the morning ...... but that was in the early/mid 80s when the idea of a mobile phone was pie in the sky.
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