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AIBU?

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Original poster

Mobile use while driving

261 replies

FarAwayHills · 31/10/2016 16:35

I am so cross and fed up of seeing people using their phones while driving Angry I counted 5 today on a pretty short journey. Having read the news today regarding the tragic death of a mum and her 3 children due the a lorry driver using his phone, I am insensed that people continue to do this. What the hell can be that important.

I am not a technical person but could there be some way that devices could be automatically disabled while a vehicle is being driven. It seems like the only way because people just can't help themselves and fines and penalties are clearly not working.

AIBU to think more needs to be done about this?

OP posts:
TheCompanyOfCats · 31/10/2016 20:24

I've thought about it yellow but i'm not sure they'd do anything if they didn't catch him in the act? I'd do anything if I thought it would make him change his ways.

thatsn0tmyname · 31/10/2016 20:25

In Surrey, sixth formers are invited to attend the Safe Drive, Stay Alive talk. It's harrowing. Every new driver should be made to attend before they collect their licence.

TheCompanyOfCats · 31/10/2016 20:26

The more I think about this, the more I agree that we need a major campaign like we had with seatbelts.

JaniceBattersby · 31/10/2016 20:27

I would like to see penalties for mobile phone use on a par with drink driving. Automatic ban for a minimum of a year, with the chance to take a rehabilitation course.

I would also like to see, formdrink driving and mobile phones use, penalties increased for repeat offenders until a total lifetime ban after three offences. At present, I see too many people appearing in court for third time drink drive offences given suspended prison sentences. Like that will teach them Hmm

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 31/10/2016 20:32

10 years for taking four lives. Is an Insult to the victims and their family.
The tariff I'd be setting is 5 years for using a phone at the wheel, and 10 years for each death and life changing injuries occurrence.
Yes I'm sure he never set out that morning to kill them, but. If he'd been concentrating on instead of twiddling about with his phone. It wouldn't have happened.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 31/10/2016 20:34

No scratch that.
10 years for Careless driving, drink driving and use of a device eg tablet or phone.
20 years for every death and serious/life changing injuries.

Matchingbluesocks · 31/10/2016 20:37

That's ridiculous. Thank god you're not making the law. Many families of victims have the maturity to feel sympathy for the drivers moment of madness that ruined all their lives, I've seen it many times. You don't know how close we all are to killing someone in our cars

PortiaCastis · 31/10/2016 20:40

I wouldn't be feeling any sympathy. I'd want them hung ! A life for a life

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 31/10/2016 20:40

Many families of victims have the maturity to feel sympathy for the drivers moment of madness that ruined all their lives

So you are saying that the many many families, including my own, that don't have 'sympathy" aren't mature.

How patronising and wrong can you get.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 31/10/2016 20:41

Erm my sympathies lie with the families. You know when you choose to piss about with your phone when driving that you're putting people in danger. I have absolutely no sympathy at all for him.
perhaps people would shape up. If I did make the laws.

Coconutty · 31/10/2016 20:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PortiaCastis · 31/10/2016 20:46

It's really quite simple dont be a stupid pillock and use a phone while driving. If you cannot understand that you should not have a licence.

e1y1 · 31/10/2016 20:53

They have looked into this Technology already - not sure what has/will become of it, but it has definitely been discussed.

In any case, YANBU - no need for it at all.

Matchingbluesocks · 31/10/2016 20:54

Yes and what I'm saying is many of those families DO understand that people make awful awful mistakes. Good thing you're not the people dealing with them.

Original poster
FarAwayHills · 31/10/2016 20:54

Browsing Gumtree ShockAngry

OP posts:
LikeDylanInTheMovies · 31/10/2016 20:58

No scratch that.
10 years for Careless driving, drink driving and use of a device eg tablet or phone.
20 years for every death and serious/life changing injuries.

Yeah very easy to posture and talk tough. Thank God you're not in the business of overseeing a fair and propotional criminal justice system.

As stupid and as reprehensible as using a mobile phone is and I certainly think they should be on a par with drink driving, are you really saying it is fair and propotional to give the same sentence to someone who commits an extremely violent pre meditated GBH to someone who is idiotic enough to send a text or make a phone call when driving? Or that someone who accidentally kills a family of four deserves a sentence far longer than someone who set out to maliciously murder someone else?

That's before you start thinking about where to imprison all those people spending ten years inside for making a phonecall and also paying for those new prisons to be built.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 31/10/2016 21:02

Good thing you're not the people dealing with them.

No I'm one of those people who lost a family member through their actions so no need for sly digs thank you.

Matchingbluesocks · 31/10/2016 21:04

There are no sly digs. What's sky about that? I've said what I think. Mobile phones are far from the most common cause of death in car accidents - driving without due care an attention for example, is far more common. You'd put someone in prison for 20 years for a lapse of concentration? Well, of course you would.

yellowfrog · 31/10/2016 21:05

TheCompanyOfCats - I would give the local police a ring anyway, as they may be able to send someone round to have a chat which might have some impact.

PortiaCastis · 31/10/2016 21:05

If there were mangled bodies under a lorry yes I would.

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 31/10/2016 21:06

Like which is why I think naming and shaming - with the crushed car on view - would be better. Far cheaper and far more humiliating for the driver. Hiding someone in prison won't really deter others. Having to look at someone's crushed car with their name on it might well do so. Perhaps newspapers could also print photos of crushed cars.

Aroundtheworldandback · 31/10/2016 21:12

I don't know why some people think it's ok to use a mobile as a satnav whilst driving. What's the difference between glancing down at that and reading a text? Surely both take your eyes off the road?

BecauseIamaBear · 31/10/2016 21:12

Insert,
In answer to your question.... no... There is nowhere to safely stop on a dual cartiageway except by leaving the road at the next junction, which may be five miles or more away and even then there is no guaranteed safe place to stop.

In the time it takes to drive further down the road and find a safe place, someone could be dead.

There is no easy answer to this one... But it is necessary to ask the question.

PortiaCastis · 31/10/2016 21:13

The fact remains there were1adult and 3 children the emergency services had to cut out of that car. The toll on those people is enough and then another family member has to identify the bodies and then the forensics and then the cps and then the court case just because of a phone.
Responsibility for your own actions is paramount

Ta1kinpeece · 31/10/2016 21:19

The driver was given the maximum tariff
and the whole country has now seen the film of him AS he killed 4 people and critically injured 13 others
he should be made to do safety talks through his parole
THAT would make people sit up and take notice

I reported a council bin lorry driver for talking on his phone while turning a sharp corner
council employees are some of the worst