Driving while using a mobile versus drink driving

[Hammy02]

Is it just me or are other people disgusted when they see people using a mobile phone while driving? There still doesn't seem to be the same level of disgust levied at someone using a mobile while driving as there is at drink-drivers. Studies have shown that it can be as dangerous as drink-driving. I can never understand how a call can be so important that it can't wait???

And how can you use a mobile inadvertently?

look lots of things are distracting

i've been distracted by horses in fields
what if a child had stepped in the road then?

i agree that answering the phone isn't ideal but it isn't disgusting either

i'd rather people paid much more attention whilst reversing if i'm honest and understood about blindspots

They are not mutually exclusive, you know.

Driving whilst using a mobile phone is indefensible, end of.

No, but being distracted by horses in a field is inadvertant. (Technically you would be to blame if you hit a child/another car/anything while being distracted by horses in a field)

Choosing to answer your phone or make a call is a conscious decision to be distracted.

But it's not just ditraction is it? It's taking a hand off the wheel for a length of time.

Thing is, it is just not neccessary to answer/use the phone whilst driving. I whish the police would to a big awarness campain with booking/fining everyone using a phone whilst driving. it is sadly not enforced enough.

Clearly people on here who do use a mobile while driving think it's entirely defensible.

Yes, it's amazing what some drivers think, isn't it?

I see people driving while using a hand held phone, turning corners and trying to negotiate busy roundabouts - almost every day

they just think they won't get caught, they dont think of the accidents they might cause

bloody disgraceful and ought to carry a heftier penalty IMO

i think people get too worked up generally

i think disgusting is too strong a term

I HATE it! How dare anybody think their need to make a call is more important than anyone's life.

I drive 30,000+ miles a year and the number of men and women i see at the wheel of a hugely expensive car with a phone clamped to their ear beggars belief - seriously? You could afford a £50,000+ car but not an integrated hands free kit??

I have no idea what to do about it - i give my 'stare' if at traffic lights!

I think it's pretty normal to worked up about something that is illegal and that has caused accidents and fatalities.

'Disgusting' is too strong a term for a serious injury that could easily have been avoided? What?

Are BigWelt and Rannaldini in fact hairy-handed truckers?

Apparently so. Apparently people get too worked up generally about this sort of trivia

They're either hairy truckers, white van men, drivers of a company BMW, or women who drive little peugeots very fast whilst simultaneously texting and applying lipgloss.

Or they are just arses.

not every phonecall results in an accident

changing cds
chatting to friends
looking at sat navs/maps/directions
being too tired
being distracted generally
having your mind elsewhere
admiring scenery
speeding
being unable to handle the car you are driving
being unable to drive in poor weather conditions
having a dirty windscreen
having faulty lights
not having enough washer fluid

these are all just as dangerous imo but still not disgusting
inadvisable but not disgusting

I saw a woman on the phone drive through a red light with two small children in car seats in the back.

Is there a national number, other than 999, that you can call to report people? I imagine you can call the local police station but when you're on the motorway you wouldn't necessarily have the number to hand. I've heard that if the police receive two phone calls about the same offence they can follow it up (is that true?) Obviously not call when driving though!

Why do you keep listing other traffic offences?

No, not every phone call results in an accident, thankfully. Is this as good as your defence gets?

also maisie darling just because i don't hold the same point of view as you it doesn't make me an arse
alright?

No darling, alas you are in fact an arse if you even try and defend driving whilst on a non-hands free mobile.

Alright?

Rannaldini

not every occurrence of drunk driving results in an accident either

but it's still a dangerous,selfish, inconsiderate, unnecessary, and ignorant think to do

and so is using a mobile while driving.

lots of people will disagree with you and it doesn't make them arses
or hairyhanded truckers for that matter

just because someone holds an opinion that differs from yours doesn't warrant name calling
does it?

I saw a fella driving a tractor using a mobile today. Eek!

OP were you by any chance watching Emergency Bikers on channel 5 yesterday afternoon as they were covering this? (only had it on whilst waiting for Neighbours, you understand!)

I'm mystified how anyone has the coordination to even attempt to use a mobile whilst driving. I can't even adjust the windows/heating till I get to a red light. My eyes will only work in one direction at a time.