What's wrong with using a mobile phone while driving?

Question

Or do you think there is nothing wrong in using one when driving?

Answer 1

Of course there is something wrong with it,

It distracts your attention from driving, and will decrease you awareness of your surroundings.

Therefore, it will cause accidents

Answer 2

It's obviously quite selfish, stupid and dangerous. It amazes me how many people still don't seem to understand what is so wrong with doing it! I'm a Brit living in Germany and I've got to say, talking on the phone, not wearing seat belts, eating and drinking and speeding in towns are very common here often with kids in the car! Brits always like to use Germany as an example of why they should be allowed to do all these things and drive faster. The myth persists that Germans don't have accidents, well, actually they do, a hell of a lot, usually very serious partly due to high speed. And the causes? exactly the same...lack of observation and concentration, driving too fast and too close. The truth here is that the German government don't make a big issue out of all this madness mainly for economic and social reasons and the media don't report the countless smashes and the emergency services do a super- efficient job over 'spiriting away' the the aftermath of carnage. Where I live, you just have to look at all the fresh skid marks on the roads on an almost daily basis to begin to understand why it is vital to be concentrating solely on the task of driving. Anyone who feels they have the God given right to drive as fast as they like and/or talking on a mobile should try surviving more than a day on the Autobahn. Ironically, once you start talking on the phone your speed begins to drop drastically and 'wandering' into the overtaking lane often occurs, I see near misses nearly every day here, imagine, a car doing 110mph, driver uses phone, speed drops to around 70mph, drifts into overtaking lane and a car is approaching from behind at 150mph. It so obvious what may happen. Even at much lower speeds we've also seen a rise here in accidents where pedestrians are being hit by cars, and for once, the powers that be are making it public that one of the main causes has been using mobile phones whilst driving. I wish there was something like the 'THINK' campaign here,but as the old saying goes, "ignorance is bliss" There are a lot of complicated reasons for that here in Germany, but come on Britain, we really do not have any excuses!

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

Normally I hate these types of regulations because they originate from plans to make money, nothing more, but in this instance I have to agree that your concentration gets divided when your driving and talking on the mobile. It's nothing like as serious when driving an Automatic as you don't essentially need 2 hands then (no gears to change) so it's like changing gear and talking all the time, but even I have to admit it's still an unnecessary distraction if your holding the phone and talking.

Answer 5

You are 4 times more likely to have an accident using a mobile phone, even when using the hands free kit. If you are holding the mobile phone in your hand you are not in proper control. A lot of people think that if you phone is not against you ear, that is hands free. Think about it it's in your hand!!. Oh yes there will be later this year, financial implications as well as points. Insures tend to load about £25 per point IE, that will cost a fair bit over time.

Answer 6

From my experience of being a professional driver that carries passengers all day long, six day a week, I would say that to use a mobile phone whilst driving is tantamount to stupidity

Witness the countless 'white van' people I see daily negotiating roundabouts and other hazards whilst chatting on their mobiles, witness the countless young ladies preening themselves whilst chatting on their mobiles (or worse texting)

I recall that someone was killed recently by a person texting whilst driving - isn't that enough of a lesson to people?

Or even worse, witness the HGV drivers emerging from junctions whilst blatantly using their mobiles

My employer's policy is stringent to the point that if caught using a mobile (including a headset) whilst in charge of the vehicle you services are terminated

Perhaps people who flaunt the use of mobiles whilst driving should have their licence terminated?

I'll sign any petition that supports this

Answer 7

You ask a very good question.

Any form of distraction while driving can cause a momentary lack of concentration, and mobile phones is one of them.

But then so are satnav, radios, CD. players, talking to passengers, looking at your speed, altering the air conditioning, the list can go on and on.

I personally feel that using the mobile phone while driving has been used as an excuse to cover up the fact that some people are just bad drivers.

If using the mobile phone while driving is wrong, then so should the other items listed above.

Answer 8

If you are using a cell phone while driving? Then you are wrong. Using cell phones while driving, distracts the driver. It has been proved time and time again. If you are that important? Then get blue tooth. It's a no hands device. It allows you to talk without using your hands. That's why most people have car wrecks because, they are concentrating on using there hands to control the phone and not paying attention to the road.

Answer 9

Your Q does not deserve an answer but as I will get 2 points I will make one comment

If one of your family was to be seriously injured or worse by a motorist. How would you feel if it then transpired that the offending driver was in fact on the phone perhaps to his girlfriend or boyfriend arranging perhaps a meeting and more. Clearly distracted from driving skills

You state that you are an official. Don't you think that the standard of driving in the UK is appaling enough without adding the phone into the equation

Answer 10

You can't concentrate on the driving it's as simple as that.

I have occasionally been involved in a conversation using hands-free and even then can't recall how I managed to get to where I was during the course of the call.

I dont even bother with hands free now. Just switch it off and if there are calls I'll pick up the messages when I'm ready

Answer 11

we have turned into a society that is obsessed with the phone and seem unable to make arrangements more than two hours in advance without using the phone. Is it worth risking a fine or an accident for such drivel. The standard of driving on the roads is crap anyway without having a mobile or even a McDonald's stuck in your face. Sorry that my mad rant out of the way for today, i feel much better now