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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wish a fiery and agonising death upon people who use mobile phones...

98 replies

Scarydragontalk · 02/11/2011 18:25

...while driving. I don't mean hands-free sets, I mean holding their phones normally, chatting away or godforfuckingbid texting at 70+mph on the motorway. I just don't think they should be allowed to live. AIBU?

OP posts:
kerala · 02/11/2011 19:30

I saw 3 people doing this on the M4 on Saturday and they were all 60 plus/grey haired. Perhaps younger people who know they want to talk and drive would sort out a hands free. Its shocking I agree.

natashakaplinkyplop · 02/11/2011 19:39

Twatty woman in sainsburys carpark today, chatting away on her phone... didn't see me and a rather large pram on the pedestrian crossing, me and ds2 had to step back and wait for her to drive past, she was oblivious!

PigletJohn · 02/11/2011 19:39

There must be a reason why police don't usually bother ticketing them. Near where I live you could stand at the traffic lights coming off a major road, and keep yourself occupied writing tickets all day.

ItsonlymeMrsDB · 02/11/2011 19:41

I shout at people who are in traffic jams or queues on their phones.

I usually get sworn at, but I don't care.

StopRainingPlease · 02/11/2011 19:48

Apparently hands-free sets are not actually much better. It's the conversation that's the main distraction. And it is worse than talking to passengers - if they are drivers they usually have some awareness of when to shut up, and if they're not and don't (DD2 and an old friend) I will tell them to be quiet when I need to.

flyingspaghettimonster · 02/11/2011 21:38

Here in Virginia I think the law is that you can't get pulled over for talking onn the phone, but it can be counted as an additional charge if you are pulled over for something else. Phone using drivers are the norm - I have had phone calls from friends driving who just expect me to chat and entertain them for their commute... wtf?

Because it is completely the norm, it is hard to get so mad as I used to. I hate texters though... people texting going 70mph are definitely worthy of a fiery death in my book... and worst of all I hate the ones who watch tv while driving!!! Yes, this happens. I have seen people with their smart phones attached to the dashboard blaring their fave programmes so they don't miss anything just because they wanted to be travelling... argh!!

meglet · 02/11/2011 22:39

Yanbu. I'd shoot them if I had my way. Nothing is important enough to use a phone while driving.

I also wonder why the police don't just blitz it, I see people on phones all day. Surely the police notice it.

My neighbour has been doing it for years and still not been stopped, I shouted at her the other week. She won't make eye contact with me any more.

milkmilklemonade · 03/11/2011 08:29

Here in Qatar it is a fine of about £2000 for going over a red light or using your mobile. I'm not saying people don't do it but the cost does make you think twice. The police have cameras in their cars and are able to print the photo of you on the phone and a ticket at the same time. 3 unpaid fines is a years ban.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 03/11/2011 10:28

Another one here wondering why more people don't get prosecuted for this. It would be piss easy surely, to sit by the side of the road and nick people?

I people on their phones every single day - and mine is a short commute. I couldn't generalise as to age/gender/vehicle type - it's equal opportunities fuckwittery imo.

CaveMum · 03/11/2011 10:34

My boss does it Angry I keep offering to go out and get him a hands-free kit and won't call him if I know he is driving, but he still phones into the office whilst driving.

He's 69!

DoesNotGiveAFig · 03/11/2011 10:40

YANBU. It gives me severe rage to see and I also shout at people who do it.

AnotherEmptyNest · 03/11/2011 10:44

Signet2012

"Driving home from a meeting on a motorway"

You had a meeting on a motorway? Did you mean 'Driving home on a motorway from a meeting'?

thefurryone · 03/11/2011 11:10

YANBU this really winds me up and in general I don't think driving offences are taken seriously enough which means people think they can just get away with doing what they like.

The worst thing I've seen recently is a woman in the middle lane of the motorway doing her make-up which was bad enough, but when we passed her again a few minutes later, she'd put back in her glasses! To make matters even worse there were two children in the car Angry

Hammy02 · 03/11/2011 12:25

I think the government needs to start really cracking down on this. I couldn't care less if these people kill themselves, it is innocent children in their car and other drivers that I care about.

Esta3GG · 03/11/2011 12:32

YANBU. I hate these fucking people.

TalkinPeace2 · 03/11/2011 12:36

if you are the passenger in a car and see this,
photograph it
driver, numberplate, if possible a location feature
and email it to the police
maybe then they will feel the pressure to start enforcing this law
if you are a pedestrian do the same
people do not obey the law because the police do not enforce it
and yet those with such an attitude to road safety are probably breaking other traffic laws

cuteboots · 03/11/2011 12:44

every day I see mainly van drivers happily chatting away on their mobile whilst driving it makes me so bloody angry. One the other morning did take a few seconds to mouth "fuck off" at me as I pulled up along side him and told him to put the phone down! Some people are just not right in the head!!

emmam25 · 03/11/2011 12:46

Arrrrgh my pet hate! I hate it so much!!! Angry me and step-mum both always put our mobiles in our hand bags behind the drivers seat so we aren't tempted AT ALL to use/answer them but my bloomin' father just will not stop doing it Hmm

The police can give a £50 fixed penalty notice if they see you doing it but if they were to crack down on it there would be an instant "don't the police have better things to do like solve real crimes" thread. Guaranteed. They can't win.

Empusa · 03/11/2011 12:53

YANBU at all! It's so ridiculously irresponsible, they just don;t care that they are risking other people's lives. Angry

Original poster
Scarydragontalk · 03/11/2011 12:59

Talkinpeace2 I always try to get their number plates but have never been quick enough yet. Taking a photo is a great idea! emmam I think we'd be able to shoot down a thread like that pretty quickly Grin

OP posts:
Thomcat · 03/11/2011 13:00

It's wrong and I don't like seeign it either but I don't wish agonising death on anyone.

TalkinPeace2 · 03/11/2011 13:10

The police most certainly have better things to do

  • dealing with careless driving
  • controlling anti social behaviour
  • catching uninsured drivers
  • reducing accidents
  • catching people who have committed other crimes
and how many of those would be REDUCED by clamping down on a very obvious aspect of all of them?

If drivers think they are in the right, watch how many put their phones down when you get your camera out !!!!

Whatmeworry · 03/11/2011 13:12

Quiet Coaches on trains are my pet hate. I travel a lot for work, and there is always some plonker who barks loudly into their mobile on the quiet coach and disrupts my sleep stops my concentration on work.

This being England everyone quietly seethes but says nothing until the Foreigner steps up and tells the cretin to pipe down.

I think instant immolation from a Death Ray would be a Good Thing. I want a Death Ray for them. And for those over-loud earphones on crowded tubes. And for that bratty kid whistling tonelessly but loudly on the train last night.

dizzyblonde · 03/11/2011 13:19

I hate this, I come up behind them with lights and sirens on and they are totally oblivious. If they don't notice that how are they going to notice a bike or someone crossing the road

Theala · 03/11/2011 13:34

They're not, dizzyblonde. I can't count the number of times I've almost been mowed down on my bike by someone on the phone who just hasn't noticed me. And I'm a safe cyclist, not one of the mad ones!