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Original poster

Colleague is blaming me for speeding fine

224 replies

LivingLifeInPink · 27/09/2020 06:55

A few weeks ago I called a friend a colleague with a work related query and he answered while he was driving (handsfree). I didn't know he was driving - we work remotely at the moment.

A week later he received a speeding fine and he's looked at the call logs - it shows he was caught speeding 1 minute into our two minute phone call.

He is saying it's my fault as the call distracted him. It was a static speed camera, not a policeman - ie. the camera is always there and it's a route he takes every day.

I really don't think I'm responsible for his own mistakes.

OP posts:
MeridianB · 27/09/2020 08:03

Assuming you’re a woman, OP, I bet he wouldn’t dare to suggest such a thing to a male colleague.

Pikachubaby · 27/09/2020 08:04

He chose to answer

I never answer calls in my car

VettiyaIruken · 27/09/2020 08:05

He is being stupid.
His hands on the wheel = his responsibility.

If he can't concentrate on the road while using hands free, he should not answer the phone.

I'd love to know why @HarryElephante thinks it's you that's responsible not your colleague.

PennyCrayon85 · 27/09/2020 08:05

Lol what a twat

calllaaalllaaammma · 27/09/2020 08:07

Tell him that he needs to send an email to every single phone contact he has every time he steps in and out of his car telling them not to call during that time period.
...Or he could just not answer the phone while he's driving?

oakleaffy · 27/09/2020 08:08

He should have switched his phone off if calls make him speed or drive dangerously.
I switch my phone off, as do many people when driving.

SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness · 27/09/2020 08:10

What an idiot. He sounds like the type that doesn't take personal responsibility for anything; it's always someone else's fault.

Redwinestillfine · 27/09/2020 08:10

You are not responsible. In my work he would be sacked for answering the phone whilst driving.

diddl · 27/09/2020 08:11

Should he have been wfh at the time & that's why he answered?

Either way, unless you reached through the phoned & pressed the accelerator, it's not your fault in any way.

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/09/2020 08:12

You are not responsible.

Does your work not have a policy on this? My last work did, explicitly stated not to use a mobile phone when driving.

liveitwell · 27/09/2020 08:12

It's totally his fault. He didn't have to answer. Or speed. If he can't concentrate driving while speaking then he shouldn't be answering it. Do not pay for it, it's his problem.

Billben · 27/09/2020 08:12

@FixTheBone

If he feels that strongly about it, he has the option of going to court to argue his case....
OP, please suggest this to him 😂

What a twat.

VeggieSausageRoll · 27/09/2020 08:13

You have to be doing a reasonable amount over the speed limit to get caught by a static camera, not just a couple of mph.

Say he was in a 30mph limit, the tolerance is usually 10% +2-3mph so let's say he was caught at 35mph, then add in the margin of error on his speedometer in the car (they always read slightly faster than you're actually going), his speedometer would have been shown him going almost 40mph as a minimum in the 30 zone. You say it's a route he regularly takes and a fixed camera. My money is on the fact that he usually exceeds the speed limit through there and forgot to slow down for the camera.

PleasantVille · 27/09/2020 08:14

@MinesAPintOfTea

It would be a disciplinary offence for me to answer the phone whilst driving if on work time/work calls. So I don't...
I don't have a hands-free kit in my car so I dont answer the phone but can't puzzle out where that fits in to this situation.
AtrociousCircumstance · 27/09/2020 08:15

He’s an idiot.

BBCONEANDTWO · 27/09/2020 08:16

@LivingLifeInPink

A few weeks ago I called a friend a colleague with a work related query and he answered while he was driving (handsfree). I didn't know he was driving - we work remotely at the moment.

A week later he received a speeding fine and he's looked at the call logs - it shows he was caught speeding 1 minute into our two minute phone call.

He is saying it's my fault as the call distracted him. It was a static speed camera, not a policeman - ie. the camera is always there and it's a route he takes every day.

I really don't think I'm responsible for his own mistakes.

Where was he driving to when he should have been working?

What an a-hole blaming you. Some people just cannot ever accept responsibility.

Mandalalorianna · 27/09/2020 08:16

Nobhead 🤣

Mittens030869 · 27/09/2020 08:24

Honestly, what an idiot! How were you supposed to know that he was driving? He shouldn't answer the phone whilst driving if it distracts him so much.

It's reminded me of how both my parents used to blame me for causing the old car we were in to break down. I was 6 years old and had just learned to read the speedometer. So I was going '68, 69, 70'. My F had got carried away and was going faster than the car could cope with.

It was in the year 1976 and I was only SIX years old fgs. I only realised recently how ridiculous they were being, when my DDs started going on about things like that in the car. Hmm

BarbaraofSeville · 27/09/2020 08:32

BBC Maybe he was going to visit a client. People do this.

I'm office based and have external clients. The current situation is that I do my office work at home, meet with some clients virtually, but also go to visit some of them in person. Maybe the OPs colleague has a similar job? Or maybe he'd just popped out at lunchtime?

Elai1978 · 27/09/2020 08:45

Of course he is unreasonable. Many years ago I had an almost opposite situation, travelling to see my parents I got hit by a speed trap at 81 in an NSL 60 limit. Straight away DSD offers to pay the fine as I was on the way to see them and had he been driving he’d likely have been doing over a ton at that point.

LilyLongJohn · 27/09/2020 08:49

He's a muppet

eaglejulesk · 27/09/2020 08:56

He's a dick. Totally his fault.

CheetasOnFajitas · 27/09/2020 08:57

@Elai1978

Of course he is unreasonable. Many years ago I had an almost opposite situation, travelling to see my parents I got hit by a speed trap at 81 in an NSL 60 limit. Straight away DSD offers to pay the fine as I was on the way to see them and had he been driving he’d likely have been doing over a ton at that point.
What? Don’t understand this.

OP, your colleague is joking, surely?

Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 27/09/2020 08:58

Exactly what @OlympicProcrastinator said.

Porridgeoat · 27/09/2020 09:00

Cheeky git. He should have opted not to take the call. He is in control of himself and his car. Idiot.

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