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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to send any videos of drivers using mobile phones to the police?

78 replies

Olympiathequeen · 01/03/2017 11:42

Using my car cam? I drive 45 minutes most days mostly motorways and I see drivers using mobiles, talking, texting every day.

I couldn't watch the footage of the lorry driver who killed a family because he was using his phone, but I gather it was horrifying. It's totally wrong and infuriates me that they get away with it.

I used to take the odd call if I thought it was important, but now I will leave it or pull over or put it on Bluetooth. I wouldn't do it now as I realise how dangerous it is.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 01/03/2017 14:35

I imagine the view that this is 'snitching' or being a 'busybody' would certainly change, if god forbid a vehicle slammed into that person's child.

purplefishy · 01/03/2017 14:38

Absolutely not U. In fact I would do the same but I honestly I don't think the police would bother following it up.

Daily we pass a row of traffic on foot who are stuck in traffic. We are talking 25-30 cars most days and most of them are on there phones or reading. We play a guessing game of "how many will be on there phones" the highest we was 18 out of 23 cars.

It's disgusting!

Only last week I was walking to collect from school on a narrow pavement a lady driver mounted the curb and bounced off just missing me. If she would of gone over the curb she would of hit me no doubt about it. I could clearly see her on her phone. She carried on driving but I caught up with her in the traffic jam and she was still on her phone chatting away. I lost my shit and told her to "get of her fucking phone" she wound down the window and yelled abuse at me and drove off as the lights had changed.

I now take my phone with me.

I think the worst I've seen is texting whilst driving a mini bus driver with a bus full of school children. It was unfortunately a in marked mini bus so I had no clue what school to report it too.

Agreed with another poster they need to find a way of disabling phone calls and text when driving not hands free / Bluetooth ect

Patriciathestripper1 · 01/03/2017 14:41

lurking what type do you have? I've got a birthday coming up and want one but not sure which one to get.

OpalMoon · 01/03/2017 14:43

angelcakerocks
YABU - members of the public policing other members of the public = slippery slope

Couldn't agree more. The only exceptions I would say is where the actions of the other driver have directly affected you, ie, damaged your car, forced you off the road; or where it can provide evidence of an accident that you caught on film.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 01/03/2017 14:45

Mumsnet = A busybody's wet dream!

So if you see someone breaking the law in a manner likely to cause serious harm to others you are being a "busy body" if you report it? Interesting Hmm

Crunchyside · 01/03/2017 14:53

OpalMoon and angelcakerocks, that makes no sense though - reporting a crime to the police isn't "policing" Hmm OP didn't say "AIBU to perform a citizens arrest on the next person I see on their phone while driving", she's talking about alerting the police so that they can do their job when people are breaking the law.

If you see a drunk person staggering towards their car, getting in and driving off, wouldn't you report that? Or would it only be appropriate to report it when it's too late and they've actually done some damage? It's exactly the same thing.

MsMims · 01/03/2017 15:16

I'll prefix this by saying if I'm ever expecting an important call Bluetooth is turned on, but apart from that my phone is put aside while I drive and any missed calls are picked up when I stop. It amazes me that people do without Bluetooth when a system can be picked up so cheaply now and retrofitted to any car.

I'm uncomfortable with dash cams being an invasion of privacy. Would you mind if I walked infront of you and filmed you as you went about your day on foot? If not, why is it ok to film people without their permission when driving? Dash cams have actually been banned in some countries.

The second issue is the general mindset that some owners of dash cams are quick to snitch/ tell tales on other drivers who they capture on film, yet would never take the same approach with any of their own transgressions/ mistakes they have recorded.

LurkingHusband · 01/03/2017 16:01

lurking what type do you have? I've got a birthday coming up and want one but not sure which one to get.

A Nextbase DUO

which is back and front in one. I also got the fitting kit so it's wired into the car so as to come on with the ignition.

Make sure you get a decent memory card (the SanDisk Amazon recommend seems OK). If the card is dodgy you can find the cam freezes after a few minutes. This was Nextbases chance to shine (which they did) as their customer support was excellent.

From that, it should go without saying to ensure you have tested the dashcam and are happy with the viewing angles etc before you start relying on it.

LurkingHusband · 01/03/2017 16:03

YABU - members of the public policing other members of the public = slippery slope

Not more the Big Society ?

Surely we should all take an interest -and some responsibility - for law and order ? I suspect some here might agree with me that it's the "leave it to the police" attitude which means so many criminals get away with it ?

Also doesn't really square with the police mantra to be vigilant and report anything suspicious ????

LurkingHusband · 01/03/2017 16:06

I'll prefix this by saying if I'm ever expecting an important call Bluetooth is turned on,

So given the suggestion that hands free is no less dangerous than hand held, (see Mythbusters clip) what call is more important than someones life. I really would be curious to know.

If you are taking calls that important, perhaps you need a driver ?

clickclickclick · 01/03/2017 16:10

Yanbu

I keep meaning to get a dash cam. Have added that one to my Amazon wish list for next birthday Smile

specialsubject · 01/03/2017 16:13

Turn the phone off, even hands free is proved to be distracting.

It should be one offence, life ban. How many more do we have to kill ?

specialsubject · 01/03/2017 16:14

Oh yes - snitch, busybody, grass. Isn't half term over yet?

LurkingHusband · 01/03/2017 16:16

It should be one offence, life ban

Personally I would confiscate the car and sell it at auction. But nobody ever agrees with me (and the price of BMWs and Audis would plummet Smile). So the next best thing is confiscate the phone and sell that at auction.

user1471596238 · 01/03/2017 16:18

I am surprised that anyone has an issue with this. It's not 'policing' or telling tales or being a busybody; it's reporting a crime that has cost lives. It's not policing because the person passing on the info isn't going to make an arrest.

RortyCrankle · 01/03/2017 16:29

Ugh I hate people who tell tales - it's like they've never grown up and you can imagine them at school telling the teacher little Johnny pulled their pigtail at playtime.

I acknowledge using a mobile whist driving is wrong but mind your own business, no-one made you road prefect.

WatchHowISoar · 01/03/2017 16:31

Yanbu Olympiathequeen not at all. Can I ask what dash cam you have? Recommended ones are always better ablnd that sounds like a bargin!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 01/03/2017 16:32

I really really want DP to get a dash cam. All the really cool meteor footage seems to come from dash cam Grin

megletthesecond · 01/03/2017 16:35

Yanbu. I've been thinking about a dash cam and this might spur me on to finally get one.

I yelled at my neighbour for talking on her phone once. Boils my piss.

megletthesecond · 01/03/2017 16:37

yy special . Life ban for one mobile while driving offence.

LurkingHusband · 01/03/2017 16:38

All the really cool meteor footage seems to come from dash cam

Mainly from Russia where police antics and insurance fraud make them universal ....

Sundance01 · 01/03/2017 16:48

I had to do a speed awareness course recently and they said if you have an accident where the police are called they may decide to check your phone and if you had been making a call using your handheld you get done for using a phone. If it was on hands free you still get done for careless driving as you were distracted by your call.

They also can check for open drinks, food etc and again prosecute for careless driving if they think you were using them

Also for when music was changed etc...

Only problem I have with this is when we have all stopped doing all these things will they start banning the most distracting thing ever in cars....Kids.

Original poster
Olympiathequeen · 01/03/2017 18:25

Just to clarify. My dash cam is on as soon as I start the engine. I don't need to switch anything on.

sirfred & RB68. Great info Smile

If any busybodies save just one person from injury that's fine with me.

I agree hands free isn't ideal either so it would literally be a call to say there's been an accident further up the motorway, so to detour. Otherwise I could be stuck 3 hours with a child being transported in a wheelchair. Bluetooth must be better than someone not actually looking at the road, but I wouldn't have long distracting chats.

My dash cam came off wowcher and it's cheap as chips. If I've got time I'll try to load up some footage to demonstrate the quality. I was really amazed how good it was.

OP posts:
mummabubs · 01/03/2017 18:29

I would. I had a guy driving a company van nearly go into the side of me whilst using a phone about a year ago. Passenger got a cracking pic of them on the phone with the company logo in view, I emailed the company and they got a work disciplinary and the company asked to use the photo in future employee training. It's literally the habit I hate most in the world. I also commute 50 miles to work on motorway each way and today even whilst the announcement of the points/penalty doubling went out I glanced left and the lady in the car next to me was on her phone and veering about. She was one of three drivers I saw using a mobile on my way into work alone. Such a selfish and unnecessary behaviour.

Crunchyside · 01/03/2017 18:56

RortyCrankle

Ugh I hate people who tell tales - it's like they've never grown up

Reporting a crime isn't "telling tales". These drivers are putting other people's lives at risk.

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