Drivers and mobile phones?

Question

Well what an *** the law is,A sixty pound fine for using a mobile in the car,Is that a joke,It should be a thousand pounds on the spot fine and a years ban,Just how many people are going to get killed until the law gets changed,I have today nearly been hit for the about the tenth time this month by person on there phones and crossing the white lines,Won't they ever learn?

Answer 1

On myth busters they compared driving and drinking with driving and talking and the drunks did better.

This is not an issue of driving with one had. it is an issue of your minds ability to converse over a telephone and process that information while also driving the vehicle. It can be done but all drivers seem impaired by the challenge.

Back before cell phones whenever you would see a bad driver it was usually a teenager driving stupid. Now it is almost always someone on the phone. Worse yet a teenager on the phone.

Answer 2

I work in a garage and I drive a lot of cars for test drives. I had a 2004 Audi A6 Quattro out the other day and I had some lady on a cell phone run a red, I swerved out of the way and the ony thing that saved me and that car from taking out the side of a Suburban was the fact that it had the all wheel drive setup. It was too close for comfort. Most people don't know, that if a technician is on a test drive and is in an accident, the only insurance companies used are that of the vehicles involved. Try explaining to someone that their $60 000 car was wrote off becase some lady was to buy to hang up. I've never had to do that or hope I never have to. I'm sure if it was thier vehicle they would be pissed off at it, what makes any other vehicle any different. Stiff fines, and possibly suspentions is whats in order. 1 month first offence, 3 months second offence, 1 year third, gone fouth, and put a $5000 fine on each time. I'm sure cell phone use would drop by a long shot.

Answer 3

I feel that this matter should be taking more serious by the law. I mean what does a fine do nothing. But these morons could kill someone i feel that it should be an automatic 2 year ban and also maybe a jail sentence.This is the only way people are going to learn that they are not going to get away with using phones etc while driving.

Answer 4

I do notice it. I almost got run over by a woman who reached down to pick something off her car floor and went through a red light. And using a mobile phone whilst driving is showing a lack of concern for the safety of other drivers. Another thing that really annoys me is when people fail to indicate. It shows a real lack of consideration. I mean, you don't need to indicate, because you know where you're going (hopefully). You do it for the other drivers on the road.

Answer 5

You are right. In the US the politicians think you can use a hands-free cell phone in a car, but the idiots don't seem to get it that it is not the act of holding a phone in your hand that is the problem, it is the brain disconnect when concentrating on flapping your yapper to someone in the phone. They don't get it. Hands-free makes no difference at all. There are news stories of teenagers who swerve into oncoming traffic and die because they are trying to text message while driving. There is no upper limit to the stupidity of most people on the road.

I can't relate British pounds to US dollars all that well, but whatever it is, try a fine of 10,000 pounds, 10 years in jail for starters. If anyone is killed in an automobile accident by someone driving on a cell phone then the cell phone user should get the death penalty.

Answer 6

The offence of using a handheld mobile telephone while driving is punishable with a fine of £60 on a fixed penalty notice or up to £2500 on conviction as well as 3 penalty points endorsed upon your licence.  This offence applies to most handheld mobile devices with the exception of two way radios. Often this offence involves the word of the motorist against that of a police officer or other witness. As the burden of proving the offence lies with the Crown and they must prove the case beyond reasonable doubt if there is an absence of collaborative evidence from the crown the case is often winnable if fought in court. Any evidence presented in the defendant’s favour such as witnesses from within the car or evidence from the phone to show that it was not being used can weigh enormously in the defendant’s favour.

Having a good lawyer on your side who knows the area well is vital, Quentin has a reputation as one of the UK's premier Road Traffic lawyers. please check his website: http://www.bestcriminaldefencebarrister.co.uk/

Answer 7

I want to know how I report someone who was oblivious to the fact that I was telling him to even get off his phone. I would love to just leave his car registration here and describe the idiot. It's people like this who don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. What kind of phone call is that important that they can't just either wait or pull over. On my very short 15 minute trip I encountered 5 idiots on the phone, 1 who thought the road was hit and nearly came out of the junction and just about stopped. They should all get something that hinders their time for this offence like community service as well as a fine and points on their licence.

Answer 8

No, unfortunately most people won't learn until they or someone close to them are involved in a serious accident. It's the same with drink/driving. So many drivers are totally overconfident of their ability to react in an emergency, it almost always takes a disaster for them to learn their lesson. However, I note that comments like this always draw out the complaints about women applying make-up while driving. While I really think men and women are equally guilty with the phones, I've yet to see anyone putting on the slap while driving.... Is this an urban myth....?

Answer 9

Actually it's up to £1000, or £2500 for a commercial driver if they can be arsed to take it to court. About time some of these idiots got a proper penalty instead of a piddling little fpn. Especially the drongo I saw this morning negotiating a roundabout in an artic, phone wedged against ear and cup in hand while trying to steer one-handed!

Answer 10

I agree, I've noticed just as many people using their phones behind the wheel as before the law was brought in. The penalty needs to be at least £200 and 6 points.