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Original poster

Be honest! Do you use the phone while driving?

196 replies

SaturdayGiraffe · 29/10/2023 16:02

I’ve noticed sooooo many more drivers in London using their phones while driving post-Covid.

They are making calls (holding phone to ear), texting/typing at lights, and checking phone while moving. First hand I have seen this behaviour.

I do not, but I’m curious, do you do this?

Please be honest, I am curious if anyone gets caught TBH.

OP posts:
TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 29/10/2023 16:53

Only in traffic jams.

Sleeplessinseattle234 · 29/10/2023 16:53

I did see someone on Friday reading and writing on a piece of paper while in the fast lane. He had it on the steering wheel. He obviously wasn’t concentrating and had slowed to nearly 50 much to the annoyance of the people in the fast lane behind him.

Also saw a fight once between two drivers. Obviously one had upset the other. They drove next to each other ( windows were open ) and they started lobbing stuff and shouting at each other. This was at about 60 miles an hour. How they didn’t crash I don’t know. And they were all over the road. After that calling hands free didn’t seem so bad.

rwalker · 29/10/2023 16:54

Always had hands free so never have the need
see loads of people on motorway with phones up to there ear in top range cars do they must have hands free don’t get it

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Driving & parking
ALongHardWinter · 29/10/2023 16:55

Do you seriously think you are you going to get someone who admits that they do? I use buses several times a week,and from my higher vantage point on the bus, without fail,every time I see someone in a car using their phone to talk or text.

Pigeonqueen · 29/10/2023 16:57

I’m in Norfolk and see tons of people doing it. It drives me crazy. So, so dangerous. They try to do it sneakily by just glancing down but you know full well what they’re doing. I never, ever do it. I have hands free etc.

I do think a lot of the newer cars are just as dangerous with their huge iPad type screens - they flash up with texts (my Sportage does) and if you’re not careful you can find yourself reading them (mine does read them out loud) and you can fiddle about all day with music / radio etc. It’s all very distracting.

GuitarGeorgina · 29/10/2023 16:57

No never. Not even in traffic jams. Too scared of being caught and the consequences.

Oganesson118 · 29/10/2023 16:59

Don’t need to, we’ve got CarPlay

RocketIceLollie · 29/10/2023 17:00

No, it's always plugged into satnav looking for the quickest route

MontyDonsBlueScarf · 29/10/2023 17:00

VeridicalVagabond · 29/10/2023 16:05

Mine's in the dock on the dashboard because I use it as sat nav and for music, but I don't touch it once I've started moving no. If I must talk or reply to a text I'll either pull over or use Google assistant to do it with voice.

This. Though I may touch it to change the volume or re-centre the map.

MadeOfAllWork · 29/10/2023 17:00

SaturdayGiraffe · 29/10/2023 16:17

Is this a London thing then?

No. It happens everywhere but just like littering no one is going to admit to doing it.

BFFfan · 29/10/2023 17:01

Apple car play is brilliant. I now do everything by voice. I've never texted while moving since having a smart phone without buttons - back in the day I could text completely by feel one handed but there is no way to do it without taking eyes off road on a smart phone. I also miss buttons for texting while walking, with a smart phone you need to stop.

However I will admit in the past to occasionally sending an eta or short update if I was held up by an accident or completely stationary with handbrake on. And I doubt I'm alone on this thread. Yes, I know it's not legal since 2003, I don't take it lightly and wouldn't have done it if I believed it was dangerous. I do understand why the law is black and white as how do you draw the line otherwise? I also like a pp keep my head upright so I am aware of possible movement or lights changing and just glance down for a second at a time. It blows me away how brazen some people are about it both in that situation and also driving along.

Before a long journey when I need the satnav I switch off any group notifications so I don't need to swipe them away if people get chatty.

Having older DC is good as they can check things for you like re-routing the maps or texting granny to let them know where you are!

FoleyHuck · 29/10/2023 17:02

No. I connect it to the car and put a podcast or music on before I set off and then it goes back in my bag.

On the very rare occasion I need to send DH a text (if I'm going to be delayed but can't pull over) I do it via Siri.

gotomomo · 29/10/2023 17:02

I've got hands free for calling. The only exception is in gridlocked traffic (standstill situation) trying to see if I have an alternative, what the situation is etc. I did use it Friday on the motorway but in my defence some people had got out of their vehicles!

duchiebun · 29/10/2023 17:03

For sat nav

TerrysNeapolitan · 29/10/2023 17:03

No. I leave it in my bag, sometimes in the boot.

tianabiscuit · 29/10/2023 17:04

Only insofar as it's in the holder for sat nav use and for music as my radio is bust.

I would never use it for texting, etc.

SiobhanSharpe · 29/10/2023 17:04

Once, many years ago, (well before it was a specific offence -- have had a phone since the 1990s) my phone rang and i went to answer it automatically. OMG, i couldn't even turn it on, i just couldn't. It was completely distracting. And terrifying.
But I too see lots of drivers who are obviously on the phone or texting, it's really common.

duchiebun · 29/10/2023 17:05

Is this a London thing then?

I've seen it outside London although never seen anyone with a phone to their ear.
I guess the slow traffic often gives a false sense of security

gotomomo · 29/10/2023 17:05

I see it frequently though when I'm on the motorbike (pillion!) I can see right into cars. I've also seen even crazier things like a baby being breastfed whilst the mother was driving, nobody else in the car so how did they get from the car seat to the mother on a motorway without stopping? Crazy behaviour

duchiebun · 29/10/2023 17:06

My brain boggles at people who eat while driving. I just think, what if an accident happens and you choke or something.

I see loads of this but can't do it, need both hands

shardash · 29/10/2023 17:06

I saw someone cycling through our town the other day, not holding on to the handlebars at all. He was too busy, using his phone with both hands.

BotterMon · 29/10/2023 17:06

I drive quite a bit for work so have handsfree with controls on the steering wheel. Actual handset is in my handbag. I often don't answer calls if in traffic or not sure where I'm going as it's too dangerous. I do see people with phone to their ear quite a bit on motorways and elsewhere. It really pisses me off! Same to those who put their make up on whilst driving in the morning. Just as bad imo.

CaptainMyCaptain · 29/10/2023 17:07

Absolutely not except occasionally on hands free and thats only to answer a call.

CornishClott · 29/10/2023 17:07

I've seen loads of people using them on the motorway. One idiot almost veered into our path in the fast lane . It was dark and I could see the light from her mobile it was in her lap . Didn't collect myself in time to get her number plate.

gotomomo · 29/10/2023 17:09

Now I do admit to eating and driving. NOT on the motorway/fast roads i should add but I spent 10 years eating my breakfast en route to work in crawling traffic. I now live where I'm on bending rural 60 mph roads so wouldn't dare

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