Using mobile phones whilst driving

[Lord Tyrion]

Okay. I had a parrott system with a screen, I don't know about more basic versions to be fair. Any hands free kit that is not hands free is not fit for purpose and shouldn't be sold.

Even basic cars have a hands free system in now, they should be compulsory in vans.

I've never worked out how celebs get pictured in their £100k cars being on a phone? How stupid are they? (okay I suppose I know the answer to that)

 

[Blue in Munich]

This has been getting a lot of publicity in recent days with a pair of convictions for causing a death in accident whilst texting/using a phone. That ever-balanced voice of public reason, the Daily Mail, is starting a campaign to increase penalties for it.

My own view is that the penalties need to seriously be increased, £500 fines, automatic bans etc. Because right now, no-one is taking a blind bit of notice of the law. Near where I live is a gravel pit and skip lorries are always coming and going from it. To see a driver NOT on his mobile phone whilst driving one of these monsters is rare indeed.

Any thoughts?

In principle fine, in practice a complete waste of time as there's no-one to enforce it.

 

[GreiginFife]

As technology advances there should be no reason for using a phone while driving. Mine is fitted with CarPlay so that I don't ever even have to look at the device and its voice activated.
Most modern cars (5-6 years) have Bluetooth integration as standard so again no excuse.
Penalties definitely need to be increased but where do you draw the line between harsh and fair as its all circumstance driven and should be (i.e caught but no accident should not be punished the same as an accident caused due to a mobile but should still carry a penalty that will ensure you don't do it again but without hammering someone, within the context.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So people can't use their mobile on public transport? Good one.

There would be a way of linking a phone to a specific car(s). If the will was there, a way would be devised that would allow all but the driver of a car to use their phones.

As usual we hear the usual reasons why it would be a problem and whatabootery. When what we are talking about is the 'inconvenience' of stopping for a few minutes to make a phone call.

 

[shewy]

Should be made the same as drink driving, no excuses. My company specify if you get in the car you switch off the phone, anyone caught flouting this are in for disciplinary action.

 

[patricks148]

Only problem is the Police are already swamped and don't either have the time or inclination to enforce it.

 

[Smiffy]

i do, but thats an expensive system, not a bluetooth car kit smiffy was referring to for peanuts.......

You can get a "Parrot" system that compared to a fine or killing somebody is peanuts with voice recognition etc.
http://www.handtec.co.uk/parrot-ck3100-lcd-advance-bluetooth-car-handsfree-kit.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwjem-BRC_isGJlJ-0h-MBEiQAbCimWM_6PXvOO0cn2ohsXiPDSA8cU_j06tDoXBMM_ReW564aAl1C8P8HAQ

 

[Imurg]

There would be a way of linking a phone to a specific car(s). If the will was there, a way would be devised that would allow all but the driver of a car to use their phones.

As usual we hear the usual reasons why it would be a problem and whatabootery. When what we are talking about is the 'inconvenience' of stopping for a few minutes to make a phone call.

You'd have thought that the tech would exist to prevent the car being started unless the drivers seat belt is fastened. And sensors to detect if anyone else is in the car and have their belts linked to it....

 

[ger147]

You could also do away with speeding over 70mph by fitting rev limiters to all vehicles and booby trapping them so anyone trying to bypass them or tamper with them get blown up as their car explodes like a bomb.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

You'd have thought that the tech would exist to prevent the car being started unless the drivers seat belt is fastened. And sensors to detect if anyone else is in the car and have their belts linked to it....

Good idea, maybe they could fit a breathalyser to the steering wheel and a face recognition system to prevent drink driving and car theft. 😃

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Good idea, maybe they could fit a breathalyser to the steering wheel and a face recognition system to prevent drink driving and car theft. 😃

Good idea !

 

[Papas1982]

I had to do a speed awareness course last year during which phones came up in conversation.
Hands free systems are of no real help. Apparently during studies, a hands free system saves minimal time in distraction, literally the time it takes for a hand to let go of a phone to grab the wheel is the difference. 0.5 of a second or something small. The talking is the distraction, not the phone in the hand. So either they should be illegal to use at all whilst driving or it wont change a thing.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

I've been caught twice in the last 10 weeks, £200 in fines a 6pts in the licence. I've stopped using my phone when I'm driving now I'm on 9pts.

 

[chrisd]

The best idea I've read here is to limit speeds to 10mph and I see that they're already trialling it on the M25 every day now ! :smirk:

 

[Hobbit]

Good idea, maybe they could fit a breathalyser to the steering wheel and a face recognition system to prevent drink driving and car theft. 

Our company cars in Germany have a breathalyser linked to a ignition lockout. 4 hour lockout, and then you get to blow again.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Our company cars in Germany have a breathalyser linked to a ignition lockout. 4 hour lockout, and then you get to blow again.

What happens if someone else wants to drive it within that 4 hour period? Is there a way to over ride the 4 hour limit for someone else to drive? And can it be fooled if someone other than the driver blows into it? For instance could my 7 year old son blow into it and then let me drive?

 

[NWJocko]

You'd have thought that the tech would exist to prevent the car being started unless the drivers seat belt is fastened. ..

My new car does

I have done it a couple of times in the past but haven't for years, that said I really don't do that much driving these days.

Phone in both cars is done from either the steering wheel or voice activated so just make a call if i have to.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I see all areas of society on a mobile everyday, there is no section that is more guilty than others. I would suggest that either they fund the Police to a much greater extent so we have patrol cars back out on patrol at all times of the day, or we just accept that as with everything else in our lives the mobile phone is there and will be used all the time.

 

[Beezerk]

I'm assuming you don't have a system in your car or it is a very old one. My built in system is all done via dials on my steering wheel. The contacts etc come up on the central console, as per the radio, and I select from there. My hands never leave the wheel, eyes flick across in the same way as changing a station on the radio.

.

My car has that as well, you're still taking your eyes off the road looking at the screen though so it kind of defeats the object, it just makes it legal but not necessarily right.

 

[Imurg]

And it's only the more modern, up-market, higher up the range models that have these gizmos.
There are millions of cars out there with none of this tech, mainly being driven by late teen/early twenties - the exact type who, quite literally, can't survive without their phones...