Be honest! Do you use the phone while driving?

[SaturdayGiraffe]

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.

I see people every single day on their phones while driving. I work in a largish town and there's genuinely not a day goes by without me seeing someone on their phone in the car on the 15 min drive to or from work.

No.

The only time I did was when I was stuck in a long queue when it had snowed, so I texted my DH to say I was safe but would be a while getting home. I did switch the engine off to do it.

Otherwise my phone stays in the glove compartment.

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

I remember a news story about a women in the US getting pulled over by police for shaving her pubes whilst driving on the freeway 😳

Never, and I end calls if I realise the person on the other end is driving, even if hands free: any distraction from driving is a huge no- no from me

Automatic drivers most likely, I could never understand how people managed it. Then got an automatic nearly 10 years ago and it was a eureka moment!

I have apple car play so no need to touch my phone and all the alerts etc come up on the dash to stop the distraction of looking left. It should be a mandatory feature on all new cars and have to be retrofitted to others. We are going to get the light up mirror retrofitted when the car goes in for its next service.

The mobile phone ban seems like a reactive not proactive approach when you look at the technology available. The distraction wouldn't be such an issue if the technology was mandatory. I have lane assist and automatic breaking which I can't believe isn't mandatory on new cars. Was deliberately drifting right to see past an idiot crawling along at 30 in a 60 even that set it off as wasn't indicating. You only have to look at the Tesla video on X to see the benefits and how reactive the law is!

Not just a London thing. I see this all the time. A kid near us was hit by a van driver looking at his phone who went through a red light on a pelican crossing on a 40 road. He was lucky to just have broken bones. It’s horrific and I too totally judge anyone not giving full attention to the road. Stationary traffic - fine but if your wheels are moving then no.

Never

Only hands free...

I've used it while at a red traffic light or stuck in traffic. Not good, I know.

I wouldn't have the co-ordination. So no. And DH has very little interest in his phone even when not driving. He does eat and drive, though. Nothing elaborate, just stuff he can grab and shovel in without looking, but it freaks me out all the same.

No

Many moons ago when I was working in general practice, I was told off by one of the partners for being short with one of the reception staff. I was trying to get her off the phone as I loathed being expected to talk on my phone and drive at the same time. I feel cross just thinking about it now

No I don't. But I wanted to say please don't put your phone in the boot, I did and a lorry crashed into the back of me, crushing the back of my car and leaving me unable to get to my phone to ring for help etc. I always have it in the front with me now either in my bag or face down on the passenger seat if I don't have a bag

Nope. Answered my phone once in 1999 but realised instantly that I couldn't talk and drive safely. Hung up and have never done it since.

Absolutely not.

It's not even connected to the in-car bluetooth thing.

I know someone who does use her phone when driving and she was shocked when I said I would never let her drive my baby in her car (after she said she wanted to take her out for the day). Disgraceful behaviour.

Only if I was totally stationary and traffic not moving st all. I cycle to work in London and am horrified by the amount of drivers moving along and using their phones. I am debating wearing a camera and submitting videos to the police, there’s a lot of convictions from that now

He could damage himself but really not sure how a bicycle could weight for weight equal the damage from a moving vehicle.

Only hands free.
Although I admit, I have texted in stationery traffic.
One think that annoys me, My in car screen asks me (in writting on screen) if I want it to display I text that's just been recieved. How is this 'display a text' feature even a thing? It's just not safe.

Apple car play - so hands free or voice activated - yes if I need to, but that’s rare.

But it’s not a London thing. I live in rural Scotland and every farm vehicle is driven by a man on his phone, often with a Collie sitting behind him in the cab. 🤷🏻‍♀️

No. I play Spotify through my phone but set it up before moving off. Use steering wheel controls to change track. Have taken calls on hands free but only rarely.

Or maybe you could have some fucking self control never been caught, everybody's lying.

Mines bluetoothed into the dashboard thingy. I occasionally answer it but only time I’ve called out was to call 999 at an accident.

No, I have it connected through bluetooth so I can see if it’s worth answering in case someone rings me. I never text or anything, way too dangerous.

No because I am not a moron. I see people doing it all the time though and it boils my blood

@SaturdayGiraffe bike could hit someone my car would see the person as a hazard in its path and break. Car are also designed with pedestrian air bags now so I would argue the bike is more dangerous

I must admit I am a bit in awe at people who can eat while driving. It's like how!!