Texting when driving?

[bladeplayer]

I mean this with the uptmost respect an' all... but you are a muppet.
What is so blinking important that you feel you HAVE to drive and text at the same time?
TBH, I'd forgive you making a phone call if it really was important- but a text?

Please tell me you don't live or drive anywhere in Buckinghamshire or Herts

I think you are out of line with this answer to be honest , ok thats what you may think or you may say he is wrong for doing so but to call someone a muppet is out of line . and to follow it up with being ok to make a call but not to text , i believe and im open to correction by the law of the land it is the same offence .. so double standards here i fear

Im not saying for a second its ok to text when driving but i have done it before , again on the older phones , i ve broken the speed limit , ive quiet possibly overtaken when i shouldnt , i prob have driven cars that werent 100% roadworthy. whether we like it or not we have all broken some rules now and then

another factor will be how long you are actually in the car , if you drive 5 hours a week your a lot less likely to call, text, eat or make mistakes at the wheel than someone that is 8 hours a day 5 days a week , but no need for the personal name calling , but its just my opinion

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Wish the police started cracking down on it even more and the punishment was a lot harsher than 3 points

For anyone who believe they are in control when texting - they aren't - regardless of a persons ability , you take your eye of the road to look at what's been sent or what has arrived and a child runs out in the road - she has zero chance.

People have killed others because they have been texted whilst driving and now currently sit in a prison somewhere - I couldn't live with that if it happened to me - maybe others can

 

[Val]

Wish the police started cracking down on it even more and the punishment was a lot harsher than 3 points

For anyone who believe they are in control when texting - they aren't - regardless of a persons ability , you take your eye of the road to look at what's been sent or what has arrived and a child runs out in the road - she has zero chance.

People have killed others because they have been texted whilst driving and now currently sit in a prison somewhere - I couldn't live with that if it happened to me - maybe others can

The law states currently using a mobile device which is a blanket cover from reading an email to sending a text.

What is more dangerous, sending a text a 70 on the motorway or reading an email whilst stopped at the lights with your handbrake on? Both get the same punishment and both can be equally difficult to prove. Someone can be in the process of texting and spot that the cops have spotted them and then cancel there text and deny it, you can't prove that so the blanket law will remain as is I reckon.

I feel the email thing in stationary traffic is a harsh one, no different from picking up a map or changing the radio etc when stationary.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The law states currently using a mobile device which is a blanket cover from reading an email to sending a text.

What is more dangerous, sending a text a 70 on the motorway or reading an email whilst stopped at the lights with your handbrake on? Both get the same punishment and both can be equally difficult to prove. Someone can be in the process of texting and spot that the cops have spotted them and then cancel there text and deny it, you can't prove that so the blanket law will remain as is I reckon.

I feel the email thing in stationary traffic is a harsh one, no different from picking up a map or changing the radio etc when stationary.

If an email is needed to be read or sent etc then pullover and do what's needed

I agree that the law needs refining but more in regards punishment increases for the more dangerous offences

 

[woody69]

Wish the police started cracking down on it even more and the punishment was a lot harsher than 3 points

For anyone who believe they are in control when texting - they aren't - regardless of a persons ability , you take your eye of the road to look at what's been sent or what has arrived and a child runs out in the road - she has zero chance.

People have killed others because they have been texted whilst driving and now currently sit in a prison somewhere - I couldn't live with that if it happened to me - maybe others can

Well that really depends on how quickly you are going and as I have stated, driving through a residential area around 30 mph, particulaly with cars about either side I wouldn't be texting. I don't expect to see a child running out in front of me when I'm on the motorway, or a dual carriageway, which is when I will occassionally send a text. The point I am trying to make is you might take your eyes off the road because you see a pretty girl walking past, or you glance at the radio/sat nav. A phone is just another thing that can potentially distract you and I'm not denying you take a risk by using it.

 

[Fish]

If an email is needed to be read or sent etc then pullover and do what's needed

I agree that the law needs refining but more in regards punishment increases for the more dangerous offences

If you pull over and use your phone in any way your still in charge of your vehicle and will still be prosecuted, no different to getting in the back of your car drunk with the keys in your pocket and sleeping!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Well that really depends on how quickly you are going and as I have stated, driving through a residential area around 30 mph, particulaly with cars about either side I wouldn't be texting. I don't expect to see a child running out in front of me when I'm on the motorway, or a dual carriageway, which is when I will occassionally send a text. The point I am trying to make is you might take your eyes off the road because you see a pretty girl walking past, or you glance at the radio/sat nav. A phone is just another thing that can potentially distract you and I'm not denying you take a risk by using it. But personally, on occassion I will send a text.

And what happens if someone brakes quickly in front of you whilst you are texting on a motorway or swerves into your lane or something has wandered onto the motorway or a truck has spilled a load or a car has crashed.

Sorry but texting whilst driving at any time is stupid , careless and dangerous and kills people.

Just because some people take their eye of the road to do other things doesn't mean it's ok to text

This maybe the Daily Mail but it highlights how dangerous it is

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...enagers-year-drink-driving-study-reveals.html

If you can live with the consequences then carry on - but will your family feel the same if you ended up causing real damage and ended up in prison

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If you pull over and use your phone in any way your still in charge of your vehicle and will still be prosecuted, no different to getting in the back of your car drunk with the keys in your pocket and sleeping!

Not if you are in a layby or a parking zone ( regards sending a text or using your phone )

 

[ger147]

https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law

 

[Slab]

Bad things I did on this morning’s drive to work (that I can remember)

• Stopped on yellow lines to let wife out
• Downloaded e-mails
• Drank coffee
• Broke the speed limit a little <10%
• Overtook on outside lane of roundabout
• Overtook on inside lane of dual carriageway
• Had two cigs
• Changed tracks on CD
• Drove one handed
• Turned/changed lanes without indicating
• Turned right on a No Right Turn junction

Yes I think I’m a good driver and no the above is not a brag... and yes clearly there is context & conditions to each of the above. I just think that many could compile a decent sized list of their own journey if they were honest enough and ease up on the judgmental approach to texts (& yes I've done that on the very odd occasion too)

Doesn't make texting completely safe to do and we'll just wait for the 'Changing CD when driving' etc etc etc threads to comment on them

If the only thing stopping you doing something is because its illegal then its not really the best reason not to do it!

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

If you pull over and use your phone in any way your still in charge of your vehicle and will still be prosecuted, no different to getting in the back of your car drunk with the keys in your pocket and sleeping!

I was led to believe with this that as long as the keys aren't on your person, ie you sleep in the back and put the keys in the boot or the glovebox, you're fine.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Bad things I did on this morning’s drive to work (that I can remember)

• Stopped on yellow lines to let wife out
• Downloaded e-mails
• Drank coffee
• Broke the speed limit a little <10%
• Overtook on outside lane of roundabout
• Overtook on inside lane of dual carriageway
• Had two cigs
• Changed tracks on CD
• Drove one handed
• Turned/changed lanes without indicating
• Turned right on a No Right Turn junction

Yes I think I’m a good driver and no the above is not a brag... and yes clearly there is context & conditions to each of the above. I just think that many could compile a decent sized list of their own journey if they were honest enough and ease up on the judgmental approach to texts (& yes I've done that on the very odd occasion too)

Doesn't make texting completely safe to do and we'll just wait for the 'Changing CD when driving' etc etc etc threads to comment on them

If the only thing stopping you doing something is because its illegal then its not really the best reason not to do it!

Guess my definition of good driver is different from yours

And yes I am judgemental of something that kills people on a regular basis - even more so when it's something that can be avoided by people

If people can live with the consequences of their actions whilst driving then away they go - just realise that those actions with also effect others

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I text whilst I am driving occasionally. Not all the time and I take a number of factors into consideration before doing it, i.e. where I am (i.e. on a motorway versus driving past a school) how busy the road is, how important I feel the text is and if it can wait, how fast I am going, if I am alone in the car etc. I'm fairly proficient at being able to text without needing to look at the screen other than the odd glance and my phone is usually "smart" enough to work out what I am trying to say, but I won't write essays and where possible I'll get most written when I come to a stop. But I still do text whilst driving.

I know it's not big or clever. I also speed at times as well.

I'm not going to be so diplomatic.

You are an idiot.

 

[woody69]

I'm not going to be so diplomatic.

You are an idiot.

And you sir, must be a saint.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

And you sir, must be a saint.

I'm not claiming to be. However, I used to be a high mileage company car driver and because I had a high insurance group car I was required to do an advanced driving course every 2 years so I probably have a better understanding than most people on here of the dangers on the road. I also used to live 2 doors down from a traffic cop that I knew very well. Some of his stories about crash scenes would leave you puking your guts up.

Please just think about your actions behind the wheel. How would you feel if someone texting knocked one of your kids down?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

And you sir, must be a saint.

What other people do in life doesn't absolve you of any stupidity you do

What could ever be so important that you feel you can text whilst driving ? If sending a text is that important then why not pull over - why put yours and other drivers lives in danger when it's unnecessary ?

 

[Slab]

Guess my definition of good driver is different from yours

And yes I am judgemental of something that kills people on a regular basis - even more so when it's something that can be avoided by people

If people can live with the consequences of their actions whilst driving then away they go - just realise that those actions with also effect others

And a list of your own infractions on a typical day would include what?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

And a list of your own infractions on a typical day would include what?

It wouldn't include texting whilst driving or downloading e mails or using my mobile at all whilst driving or any deliberate actions that mean I take my eyes of the road

 

[bladeplayer]

Becoming a strange place this forum , not sure i really deserve to be a member .. fast becoming a silly place , maybe its just me ,

 

[woody69]

And what happens if someone brakes quickly in front of you whilst you are texting on a motorway or swerves into your lane or something has wandered onto the motorway or a truck has spilled a load or a car has crashed.

Sorry but texting whilst driving at any time is stupid , careless and dangerous and kills people.

Just because some people take their eye of the road to do other things doesn't mean it's ok to text

This maybe the Daily Mail but it highlights how dangerous it is

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...enagers-year-drink-driving-study-reveals.html

If you can live with the consequences then carry on - but will your family feel the same if you ended up causing real damage and ended up in prison

People have braked sharply whilst I have been on the motorway texting, but as I have previously mentioned my eyes are not off the road for more than it takes to complete a number of other activities that make me take my eyes off the road, so I am able to react. Would I react quicker if my eyes had been 100% focused on the road ahead, of course, but that isn't the point I am trying to make.

Doing anything other than focusing 100% on the road ahead whilst driving could be considered stupid, careless and dangerous. Again, I'm not arguing against that. It is a risk, of course it is.

As for the article it's fairly meaningless. Texting causes more teen deaths than drink drivers? I'd imagine the key bit of information there considering it is talking about the US is there are a much higher number of teenagers who have a phone and text versus those who drink. If a million people text and 3000 are involved in accidents, versus 100k drinking and 2500 involved in drink driving related deaths, you could suggest texting whilst driving is much more safer than driving drunk. It's a fairly pointless comparison. I'm not disputing texting may be the cause of an accident if done in a reckless way, i.e. texting looking at the phone for an extended period of time, not looking up. The kid who died in that article texting had drifted into a different lane. I have never even come close to drifting because I don't look at the screen of my phone for long enough.

Finally, I don't make decisions based solely on if I can live with the consequences. If that was the case I wouldn't even get in a car. I make a personal assessment based on what I believe the overall risk of something happening against the possible consequences.