Re: Where is it worst to talk and drive?

Mike42 — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:39:21 -0000

You can't police this into submission. Look at speeding. Everyone does it. Big fines, loss of licence etc, and yet it's the norm here in the UK anyway. Maybe in places with armed police and reputations to match drivers have a slower culture.

The ONLY thing that will stop people using mobiles is when insurance companies start declining claims if they can prove you were on your handset at the time. I reckon there is enough evidence of the distraction that any mobile call creates to back them up. Of course, they can't really prove you weren't using a headset. So it's all or nothing.

I don't buy into handsfree kits being the answer at all. Loads of cognative studies have confirmed that it's not a dexterity issue (One-armed folks are allowed to drive, and if I drive an auto, I only need one hand anyway. If dexterity was an issue, cars wouldn't have radios & non-essential controls accessible by the driver when moving). The studies I've read put driving ability while maintaining a mobile call - handsfree or not - on par with being over the alcohol limit.

The sheer fact that you are talking/thinking about something else makes you unsafe. Passengers in the car instinctively pause their chat when you have to do something tricky, but callers don't so blather on and expect replies while you try to negotiate a 3-lane roundabout.

We have all had the post-call experience of "feck me, how did I negotiate the last 3 miles?". You can't remember, can you? Wonder what would have happened if something untoward had occurred.

Knowing what they know about the reality of using a mobile full stop, I personally feel that vendors pushing them as the workaround to the ban have blood on their hands. If someone kills because they were handsfree on a mobile, they should be treated just as if they were drunk.

Bring on the complete ban I say, and zero insurance in the event you were on the blower. We don't accept knocking back a few Gins on the road, and nothing is so important that it can't wait until you've pulled over or arrived at your destination.

Re: Where is it worst to talk and drive?

TerenceEden — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:57:17 -0000

They should be made to go to A&E departments to see the victims of car accidents /JaquiSmith.

Seriously, it's pathetic. I've not seen a single phone in the last 3 years that hasn't come with a wired headset in the box. Cheap bluetooth ones are only ~£20. There's no excuse for not using one if you are so utterly indispensable to the world that you have to take a call while going at 70mph.

I see everyone doing it. White-van man, BMW tosspot, "Soccer Moms" with kids full of cars, lorry drivers, kids in their Novas. Maybe I've had to many close shaves - but it *really* winds me up.

Get caught once and you should get a fine and several points. Twice - lose your license for a year. It's not that hard to pull over and ring back.

Rob, if you want a free headset - give me a shout and I'll see what I can do.

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Re: Where is it worst to talk and drive?

Re: Where is it worst to talk and drive?