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.

Nah. Loads of people would not dare admit it on here or they'd get jumped on.

Never. I hate seeing people texting/speaking on the phone while they’re driving.

I don't, but I have Apple car play which reads me my messages and WhatsApps and serves as my sat nav. Many many people do, and I see them every day, but they either aren't MNers or aren't going to admit to a criminal offence even on an anonymous forum. IME the most common is looking at a phone screen in crawling traffic.

You'd probably have a similar response if you asked people to admit if they ever drink and drive.

No, never. I think it's good to keep it handy though like in a cupholder or in my bag on the passenger seat because my car doesn't have phone connectivity so if I needed to ring 999 then I would have to physically get the phone. Would be no use if it was in the back and I was trapped in the car! I don't see many phone users near me, and whenever I do it's always someone in a white van!

OK maybe I should ask “Do you feel as if you are more likely to use the phone while driving post-Covid?”

I often find myself behind someone waiting at a red light, who doesn't notice the green light because they're texting.

Both mine and Dh's car you plug the phone into the car to connect it up to that. If a message comes through you can have the car "read" it so it speaks it aloud, you can also reply but only by voice. Even the maps setting will not allow you to type, only voice command it.

I don't take any phone calls whilst driving unless it is school for emergencies but then I don't do huge long journeys so I can always call back fairly quickly.

Not the physical phone, but I do use hands free for calls. Im quite able to drive & talk, but if I'm in a complicated new area I'll end the call.

mine sits in the side pocket of my car charging up.

i have sent the odd text while stopped in traffic (accident or road works) if I can't call the person I need to let know. Always actually stopped with the Hand brake on & since the change in the law, with the engine off.

I USED to check messages etc, but I stopped years ago.

I use car Bluetooth so calls can be answered and made hands free if needed. I get my maps and playlist ready before I set off. I will happily have calls on quieter and simpler routes I know well on handsfree.

Very occasionally, perhaps twice a year, if stuck in totally stationary traffic I might send a WhatsApp to say I’ll be late, or pls call the school to let them know. I know it’s wrong.

I have a decent commute and don’t often see people on phones. If I do it’s mostly van or lorry drivers in moving traffic, or people in cars sat at the lights.

Never. Not worth it. However since I've got a van for work and am really high up when driving I can see down into other cars and have noticed just how many people are using their phones. Even on the motorway.

Well I use Google maps on my phone as a sat nav so yes, but it sits on a hand free cradle and is set up before i leave so no I don't touch it when driving . I do glance at the map and listen to the sat nav instructions though . I also don't use Bluetooth to pair the phone with car so don't take calls while driving even hands free

Loads, right?

Tractor drivers round here seem to think the law re phones and driving doesn't apply to them. They're very open about doing both activities. Drives me mad.

No, only sat nav but even that's rare.

No I use my phone for sat nav and that's all.

My old car was 16 years old but got a new one earlier this year and haven't even synched my phone because I am so incompetent about that sort of stuff! DD has synced her phone so she can listen to Spotify.

Never, but I know people that do. If I am with somebody and they pick up their phone when driving, I ask them to put it down.

It is dangerous and people get killed by drivers who are not concentrating.

My car has hands free built in, but I only answer it if I absolutely have to as it is still distracting. Anything not important can wait until I have stopped.

No. I might send a text if I’m stuck in traffic. That’s if the car is actually stationary, not if it’s moving slowly.

I live in a big city and used to do this when stationery at lights. Then I was caught, fined and charged so I don’t do it anymore. Have to say though I don’t really see the issue when the engine is off in gridlocked traffic.

No.

My friend was killed by a selfish bitch who thought texting was more important than spotting the cyclist ahead of her.

She drove straight through him. No braking. No swerving. And then deleted her phone history before, yes BEFORE, she called 999.

Anyone who uses a phone whilst driving deserves no compassion. None.

Never handle my phone when driving, I connect to CarPlay before I set off and chose a Spotify playlist and that's it. Even if my phone rang I wouldn't answer it.

My phone is on silent 24/7 so before I had a car with CarPlay or an Apple Watch I wouldn't even know if I was getting a phone call when driving.

I've had an Apple Watch for the last few years and I've only used that once when driving (well stuck in traffic) I didn't actually touch the screen, I just dictated a text message to send to my OH to tell him I was in standstill traffic so would be late picking him up.

I hate seeing people using their phones behind the wheel, I see it every single journey. People don't seem to be able to wait at a set of traffic lights without messing around with their phone.

No, I use mine for sat nav but the phone itself switches to driving mode when I start my car so I don’t get message notifications until I turn off the engine. I look at it the same way I consider drink driving, just not worth the heartache if something goes wrong.

No never - but I see plenty around here who do, on a daily basis. I was even shocked last week to see someone doing it who I thought would know better - a retired fireman!

No, I live in central London and my phone is in my bag while I'm driving. If someone rings, I only answer if I think it's important - I have handsfree and my dash displays the number/name calling and I press a button on my steering wheel if I want to answer.

Never use phone for texting or speaking while driving, but I do use google maps sat nav, it sits in a little holder thingy.

Same here, I'd say I see someone using the phone every time I'm out in the car. I'd have thought everyone who drives in a large city or uses motorways would see it regularly

I suspect there's not much overlap between the demographic of mumsnetters and people who use the phone while driving