Driving/mobile phones?

Question

I think the current legislation is reasonable, but why is it wrong to phone, but ok to light up whilst driving?
Playing with fire whilst driving? Now THAT sounds dangerous

Answer 1

Personally, my mobile's switched off when I'm driving. And, even as a smoker, I don't light up either, ever since when wearing my other hat as a motorcyclist some tw*t lobbed a *** end out of the window and it caught me full in the face.

Add: Dear me, it was only a three letter word for cigarette , beginning in "f" and ending in "g" - thank you, supercensor!

Answer 2

I have noticed that most of the people who claim that talking on a HANDS FREE mobile phone is dangerous, are usually not professional drivers. I just cannot understand why a hands-free conversation is any more distracting than a car full of kids, and you don't have to shout at the mobile phone, smack it when it misbehaves or wipe chocloate off the thing after it's been with you on a journey. Get real, people!

Even another person in the car/cab, holding a conversation is more distracting, because you have to grimace, smile or make occasional eye-contact. For the professional drivers among us, (I suppose one has to reluctantly include the so-called government appointed "experts" in this category), holding a conversation HANDS FREE is no more distracting than listening to the radio. I even talk to myself on long night-journeys, and the conversations can be very interesting! The police pursue people while talking to the control-room, as do ambulance-drivers when the no.2 is in the back. Why do less competent people ALWAYS judge others by the level of their own incompetence?

I am quite capable of holding a HANDS FREE conversation, controlling a huge articulated vehicle and even smoking a cigarette at the same time, and my driving-record is proof enough of that, because I've driven 2,000,000 miles without a single near-miss or accident.

At least I don't make breakfast on a gas stove in the cab at 3am, when driving between Stranrear and the English Border, like one old truck-driver I came across!!!!!!!

Some people are just wired up differently to others, and when it comes to driving, playing a piano, being a tightrope-walker or an acrobat, people have very different levels of ability.

The simple fact is, IF YOU ARE DISTRACTED by a simple conversation, or holding a cigarette, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING AT ALL. Instead, take the bus or train, and leave the roads to those who know what they are doing.

Has anyone never heard Formula One racing drivers talking to their team-managers whilst driving at 180mph? Would that be a "Health and Safety at work" issue, I wonder?

I think is was Alonso and the team manager who talked constantly for a whole final lap!

Rally-drivers and navigators chat to each other all the time while driving through a line of trees at 100mph+ The simple fact is, if you can't do it, then don't do it, but don't judge others by your own standards and then support blanket laws on the basis of dubious "research."


Footnote: To the thoroughly agreeable and wise person who had this reply deleted last time, why not try again?

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

It is not only morally irresponsible to hold a mobile phone in your hand while driving, but it is just SO unnecessary. I have a Bluetooth mobile phone and a Bluetooth hands free gadget which just plugs into the cigarette lighter. It only cost £19.99 and no P&P either! It works brilliantly, clear sound, only took seconds to set up initially. All I have to do when I get in the car is press a wee button and off I go!! Come up to Inverness and have a field day as the majority of lorry drivers and taxi drivers I see are all talking on their mobiles hand held.
I also totally agree with you about lighting up whilst driving. Just how dangerous is that!! (a) you have to take your eyes off the road for quite a few seconds to light the cigarette and, (b) when flinging it out of the window (and thus causing litter), it can blow back into the car and cause all sorts of panic. I've seen it happen. I think smoking should also be banned in cars as well as public buildings. It only devalues the resale price of the car anyway. I wouldn't buy a second hand car if the previous owner had smoked in it.

Answer 5

You can be done for both if caught!

Personally I think anyone caught using a mobile phone whilst driving should face a fine of £1000 ON THE SPOT - can't pay then the car is seized!

They are a menace and there is no reason for them to do it - Handsfree kits cost next to nothing now and Bluetooth is cheaper every day!

BUT, the laughing part about this whole situation is that recently I was walking my son to school - coming up the road toward us was a police van - the police driver of the van was steering with his knees, whilst reading a map and talking on the phone (not radio). This was being done whilst driving past a school!!!! I reported it and guess what - NOTHING was done! No surprise there then!

Answer 6

Near where I live a motorcycle courier was on his way home from work wearing a dayglo jacket and with his headlamp on his bike on. A woman was waiting to turn right whilst sending a text on her mobile phone. She turned right across in front of him and he died on the spot.
Anyone who thinks it is ok to use a hand held phone while driving is wrong its as simple as that.
Hands free devices are ok as long as people just use them for brief conversations.... "how long before you're home dear".... "about half an hour" that sort of thing. I hear of people virtually having business meetings whilst using a hands free when driving. Its crazy. As for texting thats just insane.
We all drive our cars, vans, lorries so much these days that we forget that they are potential killing machines. You need to concentrate on driving when driving. Everything else should be secondary.

Answer 7

believe it or not you can be prosecuted for lighting up either under the 1990 environmental health act or for careless driving if you say had an accident as a result of lighting up. It is worth noting that the police have said that the Mobile phone laws are largely unenforceable

Answer 8

I can't understand why people want to smoke when they are driving, I would never sit into a car where there is a person smoking, their cars are full of blue smoke how they can even see out the front window with all this smog is beyond me. A major accident could be caused if the ciggarette is dropped onto the persons legs while driving. Also it bugs the life out of me when people drop their ciggarette butts out the window and they blow back on top of your car, it is so rude. If I wanted a face full of ash i would smoke. So smoking drivers think before you light up again in your car

Answer 9

If you talk on your cell while driving, you should use an ear piece. Period. Smokers are running out of places to smoke so I'm sort of sympathetic to them. But if you light up while driving, you can keep your eyes on the road, put a cigarette in your mouth, use the lighter and never take one of your hands off the wheel.

Answer 10

when you have loved one killed because someone was using there phone whilst driving you will soon change your mind.