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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that most people would agree that driving on the phone is stupid

94 replies

PseudoBadger · 22/06/2013 22:48

Why then, do I see so very many people doing it on every journey I take? Does no one actually give a shit?

OP posts:

fluckered · 23/06/2013 13:10

Domestic I would only consider a hands free kit as that is legal. don't see a difference in them tbh, not in the way you say they are both as dangerous but to me they are of no advantage only that they are legal.

fluckered · 23/06/2013 13:11

its also an easy target to fill quotas for the police and issue points without doing their job.

TheDeadlyDonkey · 23/06/2013 13:18

I keep seeing a local school bus driver using his mobile whilst driving a full bus.
I've reported him to the bus company, but they say that the driver would never do that
Next time I'll ring 101 and report it that way!

littlewhitebag · 23/06/2013 13:58

The penalty is £60 fine and 3 points on your license. I know because I got done for this earlier this year. I was going to pick up a child(work related) and was off the main road and stopped at traffic lights. I briefly called her gran to say to bring her down from her flat. Caught. I admitted to it there and then. I also had the embarrassment of being processed in the panda in front of clients. I will never, ever do it again. It was not my proudest moment.

RoooneyMara · 23/06/2013 14:10

I rarely use my phone, but occasionally I have been called while driving and answered it to say, 'sorry I'm driving, I'll call you back' and then hung up.

Is this acceptable? Or should I wait till I can stop before picking it up at all?

Also what do you do when you are REALLY stuck in an absolutely still traffic jam, and you're going to be late to pick up the children from school - is it Ok to use it briefly while the car is stationary?

Meglet · 23/06/2013 14:16

yanbu. I see parents doing it on the school run. That's those parents crossed off for future playdates .

They'd all get a lifetime ban if it was up to me, there is no excuse for doing it. I was driving back from the hospice when Dad was dying and my phone went, I was expecting the call to say he was dead, but there was no way I was going to touch my phone until I was home and parked.

I did shout at my neighbour when she drove off on her phone, she put it down and has never made eye contact with me since. Nor have I seen her on her phone again.

Original poster

PseudoBadger · 23/06/2013 15:24

I live next to a school, a zebra crossing, a mini roundabout and pedestrian traffic lights. All places where no one should be on a phone. But without fail every time I leave my house and am minded to take notice, I see drivers on their phones.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 23/06/2013 16:15

Why do people not just simply turn their phones off when they get into a car ? Then they won't have any angst at all about answering or not answering them.

fluckered · 23/06/2013 16:21

I hope everyone is reporting these crimes ... taking number plates and what not, instead of moaning about it.

NotGoodNotBad · 23/06/2013 16:38

"I rarely use my phone, but occasionally I have been called while driving and answered it to say, 'sorry I'm driving, I'll call you back' and then hung up.

Is this acceptable? Or should I wait till I can stop before picking it up at all?"

But what's the benefit in doing this, either to you or them? Just don't answer, and if it's important they can leave a message.

"Why do people not just simply turn their phones off when they get into a car ?"

I don't get all that many calls so don't generally think to switch it off. If it does go off I ignore it.

Original poster

PseudoBadger · 23/06/2013 16:42

Fluckered I feel perhaps it doesn't bother you that much.

OP posts:

littlewhitebag · 23/06/2013 16:47

notgoodnotbad You can't pick up at all. See my post up a bit. I was on the phone for literally 10 seconds and was stationary at red lights, in a smallish side street. Still caught. It is really, really not worth it. I will never do it again.

DomesticCEO · 23/06/2013 16:54

fluckered, I don't get your point - why buy it just because it's legal?? If you still think it's dangerous don't bother! I just leave my phone in my bag in the car then it's not tempting to answer it. I do leave it near me only because I did once had a car accident and was grateful to have the phone right next to me to call the emergency services.

As for reporting these people, how am I supposed to report them if I'm in the car myself???

cozietoesie · 23/06/2013 17:10

That's true notgoodnotbad. I sometimes forget to switch it off - but I'm equally resistant to a phone ringing (mobile or landline) so I'll just ignore.

littlewhitebag · 23/06/2013 17:31

sorry notgoodnotbad I see you were commenting on what someone else said not what you do. My mistake.

NotGoodNotBad · 23/06/2013 17:32

My mum does say though, "I didn't like to phone you in case you were driving."

Scholes34 · 23/06/2013 18:01

I always amazed when I see a driver on a mobile phone . . . who has a passenger in the car with them. Why can't the passenger make/take the call?

fluckered · 23/06/2013 18:25

Pseudobadger when I am driving I don't notice what other drivers are doing in their car but I have reported a van that has that number "How is my driving" once when he was veering left and right over the middle line. I presumed he was on the phone. I used my phone to dial in the number and the number plate. So like wise, I am saying that instead of moaning about it here I hope everyone is reporting all these acts of dangerous driving.

Melawen · 23/06/2013 19:04

scholes34 people should never use the phone in the car, but.....if I was a passenger I couldn't take the call anyway because I'm deaf!

DomesticCEO · 23/06/2013 19:10

fluckered, I'm assuming you're joking or that you were stationary when you phoned the number in?

If it was a joke it wasn't a funny one.

Scholes34 · 23/06/2013 19:12

Melawen - I assume you're not saying that in your case it would be okay for the driver to take the call.

bigbluebus · 23/06/2013 19:39

I find it unbelievable the number of people who think it is ok to drive whilst on the phone. I have seen neighbours setting off from home with their phones attached to their ears. Why not just delay setting off until you have finished the call ? - and we live on a bend, so they are steering around a bend and then a right/left hand turn at the T-junction down the road, with only one hand on the steering wheel.

And as for lorry drivers using phones - how can you drive that many tonnes of metal without being completely in control?

I remember a few months ago, I was driving DS to an interview at 6th form college when my mobile rang. I told him to check who it was, but it said 'private number' so I told him to answer anyway, just saying "hello". It was only the attendance officer from his school ringing to find out where he was (I had told the deputy head a couple of days earlier that he was going for the interview). The attendance officer must have though DS had bunked off for the day and taken my mobile so they couldn't contact me . Luckily I was dropping him back at school after the interview, so prevented further investigation.

TheSmallClanger · 23/06/2013 19:49

I like the fact that driving gives me an excuse to ignore my phone, and most other distractions. I love being in my focused driving bubble.
I don't have a satnav and I don't eat in the car when it's moving, because I am very anal about where I eat.

Round here, you have to ask taxi drivers not to twat about with their phones while they drive. The roads are small and twisty.

fluckered · 23/06/2013 20:10

Domestic I dialled in the number and car reg into my phone as if I were dialling it but didn't phone. but I would still be classed as using my phone to take down the info.

Original poster

PseudoBadger · 23/06/2013 20:12

So you basically compiled a text?

OP posts:

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