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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that mobile phone use while driving has become so widespread that it's viewedby many as aacceptable?

102 replies

ChaosTrulyReigns · 09/09/2014 09:41

It's so Angry making.

I was stuck on traffic this morning and had noticed a few users, so decided to do a quick survey. NINE out of 47 drivers coming past were obviously on their phone just pulled off from traffic lights. Texting or touching on the screen in some manner or just chatting with it at their ear. One was on eBay!

That's awful isn't it? How do people justify it to themselves?

OP posts:
Boomerwang · 09/09/2014 09:43

I don't know, I think fewer are doing it now. I can't concentrate on both driving and using my phone so I don't use my phone while driving. My partner answers calls but doesn't do sillier things like text (answering calls is also silly)

Most people I ask about it say they don't use their phone while driving, but I am not so sure they're all telling the truth.

twofingerstoGideon · 09/09/2014 09:44

I don't know how they justify it to themselves. I see this regularly on my commute to work along a very, very busy dual carriageway. I find it even more shocking when it's lorry drivers somehow, because you know if you're involved in an accident with such a massive vehicle you're not going to come out of it very well.

Poledra · 09/09/2014 09:46

DH used to get the bus home from work. He reckoned that 1 in 10 drivers was on their phone, as he used to stand and count them to pass the time waiting for the usually late bus.

It's appalling, and I don't know how people can possibly think they are in control of their car. I don't even like using my hands-free much, so will only answer if it's the childrens' school, or I know I can pull over in the next minute.

I guess they justify it by thinking they're a good driver, that it takes no more concentration than changing the radio station, that it won't happen to them. I saw somewhere recently that a woman in the States is being charged with involuntary homicide for facebooking on her phone while driving at 85mph - she killed an elderly woman in the resulting crash Sad

ILovedYouYesterday · 09/09/2014 09:46

I agree totally. I absolutely hate to see it.

I suppose they must think they are invincible and that fatal accidents happen to other people Sad

Poledra · 09/09/2014 09:47

Rather than 'or I know I can pull over' to 'and I know I can pull over'

Littledidsheknow · 09/09/2014 09:48

" I can't concentrate on both driving and using my phone so I don't use my phone while driving"

Er, that and that it's illegal too surely, Boom?

angelos02 · 09/09/2014 09:49

YANBU As bad as drinking a bottle of wine and then driving in my opinion. NO excuse...ever

Andrewofgg · 09/09/2014 09:49

I sit as a JP and see a lot of these. I once announced a totting-up disqualification for a driver who had four lots of three points , all for this offence. The last to get the message!

My "favourites" are the ones who tell the rozzers that they were "only sending a text" as if that made it better, not worse.

AllotmentQueen · 09/09/2014 09:50

I agree. It's incredibly widespread. I keep my phone in my bag on the floor of the passenger side so I can't be tempted to answer it, but I often see people texting and speaking on the phone.

Personally I don't think hands free sets are any less dangerous.

Someone linked to a brilliant ad recently about mobile phone use - I'll see if I can find it.

Original poster
ChaosTrulyReigns · 09/09/2014 09:50

There was a PSA shown in the cinemas in Ireland ( Ithink) where they showed what could happen in a moment's distraction on a phone. It was quite shocking. As it should be.

OP posts:
AllotmentQueen · 09/09/2014 09:51
angelos02 · 09/09/2014 10:01

Some people's addiction to their mobile phone is tragic. So often you see people in a pub/café repeatedly checking their phone in the middle of the conversation with the people they are actually with. Luckily none of my friends are like this.

TheNewStatesman · 09/09/2014 10:27

It needs to become taboo, like drink driving.

PurpleSwift · 09/09/2014 10:30

Gives me the rage. An old school friend was recently almost bragging at being pulled over because she was speeding due to being on her phone when driving but she managed to hide her phone in time for being pulled over!!

Siarie · 09/09/2014 10:30

I don't see it as acceptable but I have no idea if others do. Any friends I've spoken to have also said it's very dangerous. I personally don't take my eyes off the road (even to talk to others in the car) as I think any distraction that uses your eyes leaves you open to missing that split second of change.

Original poster
ChaosTrulyReigns · 09/09/2014 11:04

That was it Allotment, not sure where I had Ireland from in my brain. I've just watched it again, and the adrenalin is coursing through me.

N

OP posts:
Puzzledandpissedoff · 09/09/2014 11:11

I believe it's the same old story: The rules don't apply to me

Maybe heavier penalties (perhaps 6 points instead of 3) might help, but I'm not even sure of that as too many get the disqualification quashed by crying "I won't be able to work" and all the rest ...

diddl · 09/09/2014 11:19

I don't think it's acceptable, not sure if people do.

They just seem unable to switch off or not answer the bloody things-which was what that PSA showed to me more clearly tbh.

I would have thought that it was a given that it's dangerous to drive whilst using a phone!

AllotmentQueen · 09/09/2014 11:25

It makes me feel sick every time I watch it - it's so easy to do. There was a case near us a few years ago of a young woman killed on the motorway because a lorry driver behind her was texting and ran straight over her car.

The penalties should be much, much tougher - and should include hands free kits. Mobile phone records make it very easy to check whether someone has been using their phone before an accident, and if they have they should be punished heavily.

tumbletastic · 09/09/2014 11:31

This past year in our small town an elderly lollipop man was killed by a young woman who was texting on her phone.
The sad fact is how preventable the accident was. The road is long and straight and is a 20mph. Such a sad and extremely unnecessary death caused by a phone and the distractions they bring.

ThinkFirst · 09/09/2014 11:33

Even though hands free is not illegal if you have an accident while using it you can be prosecuted. Bloody stupid that cars are now being built with hands free kits built in.

Andrewofgg · 09/09/2014 11:34

It should have been six points not three. And the exceptional-hardship defence to a totting disqualification should be abolished. But who will dare?

passmethewineplease · 09/09/2014 11:41

Need to have tougher penalties.

I see it loads along with cars going ridiculous speeds in 30 zones. It's infuriating.

People just don't grasp the damage they could cause by it, until it's too late of course.

AllotmentQueen · 09/09/2014 11:52

Cars are being built like mini lounges now and it's so dangerous. I've seen passengers sitting in the front watching tv on ipads in front of the sun visor. How bloody distracting to the driver must that be???

Cars are for getting from A to B - not to be made so ludicrously comfortable that the driver forgets about all the vulnerable road users around him/her.

Sizzlesthedog · 09/09/2014 11:59

I see it all the time. It really worries me. I used to talk on the phone when driving about 15 years ago. I wouldn't do it now.

I used to have a hands free set. A big clunky holder and a microphone.

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