Using mobile phones whilst driving

[Deleted member 18645]

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?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

A month ban from driving and £1000 fine for first offence and then double it everytime they are caught

 

[stokie_93]

Nothing worse than seeing people on them.

Was shocked at the sheer amount of people on them whilst in the USA.
Calling on one is bad but I can only imagine how distracting it is texting whilst driving.

Agree with Phil above, it should carry some form of automatic ban and an on the spot fine.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Agree with all above. I can guarantee I will see people on a mobile every day on my commute. The worst are tradesmen, plumbers, builders, electricians etc. Why do they not have built in systems into their vans etc. They are on their phones constantly so they know what they are doing. Definitely need to up the fines.

 

[JCW]

Its getting out of hand , 9 points and £500 min fine , 2nd time caught doing it a year ban and heavy fine and insurance companies should put extra on the premiums of those caught , not a day goes by that you do not see some one texting of talking on the phone while driving .....................EYG

 

[Val]

Guilty as charged, I do it and I do it regularly unfortunately. I've plenty excuses for doing it but none are worthy excuses. I'd be surprised if anyone on this forum hasn't done it at some point whether sending or reading a text or email.

A large fine and ban is the only proper deterent.

 

[stokie_93]

Guilty as charged, I do it and I do it regularly unfortunately. I've plenty excuses for doing it but none are worthy excuses. I'd be surprised if anyone on this forum hasn't done it at some point whether sending or reading a text or email.

A large fine and ban is the only proper deterent.

Not going to be judgemental but all it takes is 5 seconds with your eyes off the road Val and you've hit a car/pedestrian/lampost etc.

 

[Norrin Radd]

lobotomise the buggers ,they wont be able to drive then let alone text on a phone whilst doing so.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

No excuse for using mobile phones whilst driving, but personally would like to see all this effort and publicity and draconian punishments put into drinking and driving or uninsured drivers which take way more lives and costs the Country way more.
Also don't really understand the difference between CB's in Lorries and Mobiles.

 

[Imurg]

It needs to be made as socially unacceptable as drink driving, with similar penalties for getting caught.
Many people, it would seem, have lost the ability to park before using the phone....
And I bet almost all calls are not so important that they couldn't wait 5 minutes.....

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It would be very easy for mobile phone manufacturers to put functionality into their devices that disables the phone - or most phone functions - when the phone is moving at more than a fast walking pace. Simply take two measurements of position using GPS - take the difference - and then divide by the time lapse between the measurements.

This would of course immobilise phones of passengers but there could be a way to deactivate the device and when deactivated the time of deactivation and speed of vehicle would be recorded against your mobile phone account. There would be some way of holding the drivers mobile phone numbers in the vehicle that would prevent the override of those phones being activated - or something like that

Insurance companies could also have as a condition of cover that the driver must not use a mobile phone whilst driving.

Whatever - dead easy to disable a mobile phone when it's moving at greater than walking speed

 

[Val]

Not going to be judgemental but all it takes is 5 seconds with your eyes off the road Val and you've hit a car/pedestrian/lampost etc.

I know

 

[Kellfire]

It would be very easy for mobile phone manufacturers to put functionality into their devices that disables the phone - or most phone functions - when the phone is moving at more than a fast walking pace. Simply take two measurements of position using GPS - take the difference - and then divide by the time lapse between the measurements.

This would of course immobilise phones of passengers but there could be a way to deactivate the device and when deactivated the time of deactivation and speed of vehicle would be recorded against your mobile phone account. There would be some way of holding the drivers mobile phone numbers in the vehicle that would prevent the override of those phones being activated - or something like that

Insurance companies could also have as a condition of cover that the driver must not use a mobile phone whilst driving.

Whatever - dead easy to disable a mobile phone when it's moving at greater than walking speed

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

 

[drdel]

It would be very easy for mobile phone manufacturers to put functionality into their devices that disables the phone - or most phone functions - when the phone is moving at more than a fast walking pace. Simply take two measurements of position using GPS - take the difference - and then divide by the time lapse between the measurements.

This would of course immobilise phones of passengers but there could be a way to deactivate the device and when deactivated the time of deactivation and speed of vehicle would be recorded against your mobile phone account. There would be some way of holding the drivers mobile phone numbers in the vehicle that would prevent the override of those phones being activated - or something like that

Insurance companies could also have as a condition of cover that the driver must not use a mobile phone whilst driving.

Whatever - dead easy to disable a mobile phone when it's moving at greater than walking speed

Exactly right. The technology is easy. Does it really matter if a passenger's phone is also disabled: if its an emergency. stop the dam car or pull off as soon as possible (could have an automatic override allowing 999 calls.

I never cease to be amazed how often TV presenters are filmed 'talking to camera' while driving - what's the flaming difference - Fine 'em hard.

 

[USER1999]

And while we are on our soap box, let's ban kids in the car, pets, eating, smoking, car radios, and talking. They are all equally distracting. Oh, and definitely wives. Unless they are in a burka, with a gag in it.

We could reduce speeds down to 10 miles an hour too. It might take ages to get anywhere, but it would be pretty safe. Especially if the cars were made from big foam blocks.

 

[Smiffy]

You can get car bluetooth kits now for peanuts.

 

[Rooter]

You can get car bluetooth kits now for peanuts.

true, but how do you make a call? you pick up the phone, dial the number or look in contacts and then press go.. unless its a fully automated voice command system, then its just as bad as texting.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

true, but how do you make a call? you pick up the phone, dial the number or look in contacts and then press go.. unless its a fully automated voice command system, then its just as bad as texting.

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.

I used to have a hands free system that was installed. That had a small screen attached to the front of the dash. It had a dial to scroll through contacts. It was not as good as a built in one but it was still far better than holding a phone, scrolling through etc. Once the call was made / received it came through the speakers.

 

[Val]

You can get car bluetooth kits now for peanuts.

They wont read texts or reply on the forum though

**sent from my iPhone near junction 42 M6 north **

 

[Rooter]

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.

I used to have a hands free system that was installed. That had a small screen attached to the front of the dash. It had a dial to scroll through contacts. It was not as good as a built in one but it was still far better than holding a phone, scrolling through etc. Once the call was made / received it came through the speakers.

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