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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Texting while driving

115 replies

Shrzx1105 · 15/04/2017 14:30

DH texts and drives sometimes. He has managed to not get into any accidents (yet...) but yesterday he almost hit a car stopped in front of us because he was texting Angry

I have told him multiple times that I am not comfortable with him texting while I'm in the car but he just told me he never forced me to get in the car with him. AIBU to ask him to stop texting and driving??

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 15/04/2017 15:11

As you get in the car demand his phone. If he takes the children without you take his phone before he leaves the house. TNS about this.

Error404usernamenotfound · 15/04/2017 15:17

I agree with Andrew. Refuse to get in the car with him unless you have control of his phone, and don't let him take his phone if he's driving the children.

He's being an arrogant prick, assuming that somehow he will be able to defy the laws of physics and have superhuman attention and reaction times.

The only way he will stop is by being caught. Or worse.

BreconBeBuggered · 15/04/2017 15:23

He's a wanker, isn't he? Whatever else he does in his life, hand-feeding orphaned puppies or doing life-saving surgery unpaid, this makes him a wanker. It's everyone's business to make sure this wanker behaviour does not continue.

thatcoldfeeling · 15/04/2017 15:23

Show him this video:

He is putting other people's lives in danger and he HAS to stop.

Agree with all the posters who say he should not be allowed in the car with kids and phone.

It is akin to drink driving IMO but unlike drink driving you can't report to the police ahead of time because he simply may not be texting while driving.

thatcoldfeeling · 15/04/2017 15:26

Sorry should say video is disturbing - it is for him to watch, I wouldn't recommend to others who don;t txt and drive.

Wornoutbear · 15/04/2017 15:27

What an utter twat - one of my mates was killed by an arsehole doing this. I can't believe you've even asked the question. And, more to the point, why do you even get in the car with him?

EggysMom · 15/04/2017 15:30

Take the phone off him before you get into the car?

PollyPerky · 15/04/2017 15:32

OP you seem a bit laid back about it all despite posting here.

You seem to underestimate what could happen. 'He hasn't had an accident yet'- maybe you should re-phrase that to be 'He hasn't killed any other innocent drivers or pedestrians - yet.'

It's as bad a drink driving.

He sounds like an utter knob end.

EweAreHere · 15/04/2017 15:32

I wouldn't let him drive me anywhere if he didn't give up his phone, and you can't let the children ride with him. Tell him if he does it while they're in the car, you'd be obligated to report him and probably divorce him for endangering their lives so needlessly, so you'll just ban them from the car up front.

I'd personally tell him I'd report him to the police myself if I saw it again.

PollyPerky · 15/04/2017 15:34

If this is ongoing he will do it with or without you in the car.

I'd report him to the police anyway and ask them to come round and talk to him. before he kills someone.

ilovesooty · 15/04/2017 15:38

I'd lose my job if I were caught doing this on my own time. Not that it's the prime deterrent of course nit would he suffer the same consequences?

SarcasmMode · 15/04/2017 15:39

What a selfish man.

Why would anyone do this?

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 15/04/2017 15:43

He's an arse.

Take his phone off him before he starts the engine and don't give it back, I really wouldn't get in a car with him if he refused.

PollyPerky · 15/04/2017 15:45

All this 'take the phone off him' is treating him like a child.

It's not going to change his behaviour when he's driving on his own- is it?

MidniteScribbler · 15/04/2017 15:45

Make him watch this:

There is no excuse, no justification for using a phone whilst driving. No one is that important that they need to check their phone whilst behind the wheel. I would not allow my child to be in a car with someone that thought that this behaviour was acceptable.

WhereYouLeftIt · 15/04/2017 15:47

I just wouldn't get into the car with him, unless he handed over his phone first.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 15/04/2017 15:48

Yes it is treating him like a child.

FamilySpartan · 15/04/2017 15:48

Sorry, he's a fucking arsehole. I have a friend who is paraplegic because some other twat driving in the opposite direction was texting whilst driving. There's no excuse for this behaviour.

onwardsandbeyond · 15/04/2017 15:51

I hope he gets caught gets 6 points and a heavy fine before he causes an accident. People like your DH are not fit to drive. You should report him.

Original poster
Shrzx1105 · 15/04/2017 16:13

I can't refuse to get into the car because I rely on him to drive me to and from work. And I don't think he will let me take his phone :(

OP posts:
redshoeblueshoe · 15/04/2017 16:22

How far is it to work ? Can't you walk/cycle/bus ?
do you have kids ?

ScrommidgeClaryAndSpunt · 15/04/2017 16:22

OP, at the risk of sounding unnecessarily blunt, if he stacks the car because of his texting, you'll have a job getting to work anyway. Take the phone off him. They make these laws for a reason.

SparklyPantaloons · 15/04/2017 16:23

Does he not have a smart phone? Just stick it on the dashboard and use voice recognition to dictate texts or it can read the text to him out loud.

LouisevilleLlama · 15/04/2017 16:24

(Prefix: I am a man)

YANBU it's illegal and dangerous, bit of a dick move

NerrSnerr · 15/04/2017 16:27

If he kills someone because he hits them while driving you to work you'll have it on your conscience forever. You might not change his behaviour and he may still text when you're not in the car but you can make a choice not to have anything to do with his bad behaviour. I'd find another way to work.

Does he drive children?