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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:
VelvetSpoon · 01/11/2016 14:44

Leaving your phone in the boot is really bad advice, I'm astonished a police officer suggested that. I know of 2 instances where people have needed their phones urgently (one friend rolled her car on an isolated country lane, she was trapped in it but could reach her phone in her bag beside her to call for help. She wouldn't have been able to get to the boot. Likewise someone else I know who was being followed/ tailgated by a car late at night, it wouldn't have been safe for her to stop and get out to get her phone).

I'm a new driver, I don't use my phone at all, as I haven't set up my handsfree yet. When I do, it's for emergencies/ essential use only in my view. I certainly won't be like the drivers I see daily texting/ facebooking/ etc with their phone in their hand. In fact I can't believe how many people drive holding their phones...why? If you can afford a car you can afford a Bluetooth kit, they're peanuts and most cars made in the last 10 years have them built in...so why?!

LurkingHusband · 01/11/2016 14:45

Not everyone has a bluetooth..

Quite aside from the fact that I was given one for "free" when I bought a new phone 11 years ago, the fact they can be picked up for less than a tenner means thats a pretty pathetic excuse.

Magpiemagpie · 01/11/2016 14:47

No not everyone has got blue tooth but if it was the law then you would have to have it or not use your phone and bluetooth set can be bought for £30 on eBay so in my opinion no real excuse

When my son started to drive in his car the first thing I bought him was a cheap Bluetooth set from eBay that clips to his sun visor for £30 of eBay

LurkingHusband · 01/11/2016 14:48

Here is an excerpt from the program I was trying to link to last night - I can't urge people to watch the whole thing strongly enough ...

It was this episode of mythbusters which changed my behaviour overnight. I was quite shocked.

No more hands free talking for me.

PurpleDaisies · 01/11/2016 14:48

the fact they can be picked up for less than a tenner means thats a pretty pathetic excuse.

Excuse for what though? Having your phone in your bag to use if your car breaks down? Confused

LurkingHusband · 01/11/2016 14:50

bluetooth set can be bought for £30 on eBay

of £8 on Amazon

www.amazon.co.uk/Omenex-61836-Bluetooth-Headset-Mobile-Phone/dp/B008N4HK9O

KondosSecretJunkRoom · 01/11/2016 14:50

I think we have produced a culture of being constantly accessible. I'm not sure what kind of penalty would have to be dished out to change that culture when it comes to driving and mobile phones. I suspect this sentence and a 6 point penalty won't touch the sides and that the only way to change the behaviour will be to make it so that mobiles cannot work while a car is moving.

And also, if the evidence also points to a driver being dangrously distracted while using a hands free kit, we can't just dismiss that because it doesn't suit. Or just because it's considered worse to use a mobile in the usual manner.

And while we're ranking distractions, I suspect driving with kids in the back of the car can be far more distracting than any phone enabled conversation. So, what's to be done about that? Do we legislate to mitigate that risk too?

Not that I have any of the answers but I can't see how the conversation can just end with ever increasing harsh legislation for using hands-on mobiles whilst driving.

Magpiemagpie · 01/11/2016 14:53

Your cat or car 😄

Because if it's in your bag I would I imagine that people will be tempted to use it if they get a message or email if it's in the boot they can't
Also it cuts out the excuses people will make if they get caught . If it's in the boot then no excuses.

LurkingHusband · 01/11/2016 14:54

Excuse for what though? Having your phone in your bag to use if your car breaks down

?????
Excuse for using your phone hands-on instead of with a bluetooth.
?????

Magpiemagpie · 01/11/2016 14:55

If it's your cat I have no answer 😄

Spriteisbetterthan7Up · 01/11/2016 14:58

I was once in a cab and the driver started using his phone to watch TV. I was Shock

graphista · 01/11/2016 15:01

There's quite a few studies that show that even hands free too much of a distraction.

PurpleDaisies · 01/11/2016 15:01

lurking no one was suggesting that people without bluetooth should use their phones hands on-bluetooth was suggested as a solution to finding your phone in the boot when you've broken down at night and can't find it.

maggie I don't think we need a law banning people from having mobiles in the car to stop them being tempted to use them. We just need proper enforcement of the current rules. People think they can do it with no repercussions at the moment.

As for a lack of Bluetooth in the cat-I think that's an issue for the vet. Grin

Magpiemagpie · 01/11/2016 15:02

If you have blue tooth you can scroll through the contacts so as long as you have your AA /RAC in your contacts you have no need to get to your phone

PurpleDaisies · 01/11/2016 15:02

But you'd have to stay in your car. If you're on the hard shoulder that's an absolute no no.

Magpiemagpie · 01/11/2016 15:06

But the current law don't work that's pretty obvious . The chances of getting caught is slim but if I knew that even having my phone in my car with me would mean a ban / fine and the possibility of not being able to afford to drive again I would keep my phone in the boot and use Bluetooth ( as I do now)
If it was against the law to have your phone in the car people would soon get used to it .At present I personally don't think the penalties are harsh enough
We did with drink-driving and wearing seat belts and with

PortiaCastis · 01/11/2016 15:07

A major tv campaign at prime time could help, what are people's views on this idea ?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/11/2016 15:08

Quite aside from the fact that I was given one for "free" when I bought a new phone 11 years ago, the fact they can be picked up for less than a tenner means thats a pretty pathetic excuse.

I wasn't talking about those as I think fiddling about with a button on an earpiece is a distraction, I was talking about built in bluetooth. I could never get on with the earpiece ones and so never used my phone and made sure my new car had built in bluetooth.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/11/2016 15:09

A major tv campaign at prime time could help, what are people's views on this idea ?

It could work but I doubt a lot of people would see it. I mainly watch programmes I've recorded and fast forward everything except the bit I'm interested in.

LurkingHusband · 01/11/2016 15:13

I wasn't talking about those as I think fiddling about with a button on an earpiece is a distraction, I was talking about built in bluetooth. I could never get on with the earpiece ones and so never used my phone and made sure my new car had built in bluetooth.

Different folks, different strokes.

But "I don't like the earpiece ones and can't afford a car with built in" are NOT valid justifications for breaking the law.

The same way, going back to 1983 (I was there) "I find seatbelts uncomfortable" was never available as a defence to breaking the law.

LightTheLampNotTheRat · 01/11/2016 15:14

Haven't RTFT yet. Obvs totally agree that no one should ever look at phone while driving a moving car. What about stuck in traffic tho, or at a red light, when the car is stationary? I'm never sure about that.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/11/2016 15:14

Where did I say people should break the law? If they don't have a car with built in bluetooth and don't like headsets then don't use the phone.

PortiaCastis · 01/11/2016 15:15

Fair point Pink I was thinking how much awareness has been raised by the News yesterday, which is why I put it up for suggestion. We need something to reach maximum number of people. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

PurpleDaisies · 01/11/2016 15:16

I'm sorry but I've broken down twice on motorway hard shoulders and there's no way I'd be faffing around in the boot to get my phone. You need to be able to quickly grab your bag and get safely over the barrier.

I don't think requiring people to keep mobiles in the boot would make much difference to hands on mobile use in the car anyway-people who flout the rules now will continue to flout the rules. I agree harsher penalties for getting caught would help. If there were a big campaign where lots of people were actually caught and fined heavily that might make a difference (I'm thinking like at Christmas where you pretty much expect to get breathalysed at some point).

Magpiemagpie · 01/11/2016 15:20

So how did people manage years ago before mobile phones when they broke down on the M25 a
They walked along the hard shoulder to the SOS phone boxes to call for help
Theses phone boxes are still there and people still use them now if they breakdown.
If they were a danger they wouldn't be there and allowed to be used
Yes mobiles make it easier . But I think it's just a load of excuses for people wanting to be permanently attached to there phones