Reporting drivers on their phones

[Snitchyorwitchy]

Simple as this - we cycle to school. We live in an area with lots of cyclists, including children under 10 cycling with parents.

I have a helmet camera.

The local police have an online submission tool.

Everyday I'd say about 10% of drivers are on their phones in moving but slow traffic. There have been numerous near misses as a result of "distracted" driving.

I don't need to go into the details of how dangerous this is (if you don't believe me, just Google), even if in standstill traffic the distraction continues.

You are not being unreasonable = submit it to police - it's law, it is safety of you and your and other children.

You are being unreasonable = leave it to the police to catch people themselves.

It is quite shocking, but sadly not surprising. It seems to me that people who are glued to their phones every waking minute, are unlikely to detach themselves from it while driving, legal or not.

Perhaps the only deterrent will be an on the spot ban period when caught, as well as a fine and points.

I heard the police were rolling out some special cameras to catch people on their phones, not sure what was the outcome of that.

I'm surprised. I didn't think it was legal to flick on a Web browser or tap away on your Spotify to find a track or send a text, even if the phone was mounted.

You learn something new everyday!

I get so angry when I see people driving on phones.
We were hit by a van driver on his phone, it was the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced. Our car was a right off and I clearly remember thinking we had died. A passing motorist stopped and got us out of the smoking car, phoned police, ambulance etc. I am still nervous in a car 5 years later.

With evidence from my dash cam I report phone drivers, drivers who jump red lights, drivers that drive dangerously...basically anyone that I think the police should have a word with in a serious way.

South Wales Police have a specific campaign to capture all of this sort of stuff which I think is a great idea.

Definitely report if you can. The more we clamp down on these entitled idiots the better.

Am I the only person that thinks quickly using a phone when you are in stationary traffic is forgivable?

Buy a sat nav and set it before you drive off and use Siri. Like everyone else does. It’s not okay just because you do it.

Mine is always mounted in the car so perfectly legal to use it that way so I shall continue to use as I do.

You are breaking the law and could get 6 points on your licence plus up to £1000 fine. Please check the latest regulations.

www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-declares-zero-tolerance-for-phone-use-behind-the-wheel-as-law-changes-today#:~:text=From%20today%20(25%20March%202022,dangerous%20drivers%20to%20escape%20conviction.

It’s mounted and therefore legal to use like that

Sorry to derail the thread. I have my phone in a holder on my dashboard and often play my YouTube playlists, connected to my car's sound.

I sometimes get drivers give me an odd look, I suspect they think I'm watching YT videos, but I'm just listening to my playlist.

If the police saw, could I get in trouble?

If you touch your phone or satnav while you are in traffic, it's illegal.
You have to be pulled over and engine off to do those

I don’t see how it’s more dangerous than programming an integrated sat nav or selecting music etc using the cars entertainment system. I wouldn’t do those things while moving, but do them while stationary. I don’t do it on my phone but not sure why it’s worse.

So how do you pay for your costa with your Apple Pay going through the drive thru?
it’s not illegal to touch your phone whilst in a car with its engine on

If you're scrolling through playlists on Spotify or looking at contacts as the poster suggested, it's illegal. It's only legal if it's completely hands free.

To do that you'd have to be parked with your engine switched off.

Yes, if you're scrolling through or selecting things on your phone while driving (or even stationary with the engine on), it's illegal and the police could fine you and give you points on your licence if they saw you.

Personally I don't think it's immoral whilst stationary, although I wouldn't risk it myself as it's a lot of money if a police officer wanted to fine you.

@CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease unless it’s hands free you’re totally breaking the law - a woman posted recently that she’d been using her phone while at traffic lights stationary and now has 6 points on their licence.

The hands free thing is sadly a get out of jail free card to use your phone - many studies have shown that using your phone hands free is just as dangerous as holding it. It’s not the act of holding it that’s the distraction 😢.

@Emilia35 if you are stationary in traffic and on your phone you are not aware of your surroundings. You see it so often at lights - lights turn green, car doesn’t move, people toot, driver panics and shoots off without checking their surroundings.

It’s not worth the risk. Nothing is that urgent.

Yep. I drive and sit in slow moving traffic. Pretty much daily the person behind me is on their phone. And I don’t mean using it as a sat nav. It’s in their lap or hand and they’re clearly texting or talking. Another give away a of it is that when the traffic slowly moves from stationary there’s a sodden gap coz they’ve got their head down for so long. I’m paranoid one day they’ll drive into the back of me as they suddenly start moving then look down again.

Please report. Driving while on your phone is potentially murder.

I wish the prohibition were extended to cyclists. I don't see how they can be fully in control with one hand and most of their attention occupied by their phone.

I live near a huge hospital and every morning the staff are all sat in traffic on their phones 😂

Literally as the lights go green they drive off (usually while still texting with one hand) and drive into the staff car park.

I'm often on a bus in the bus lane and have a full view of their laps.

They also drive through the red light crossing before the hospital too - due to texting. I hate crossing the road to school with the children.

Police do know. They do a FB reminder and that's it.

Seen this loads too!! It's scary

Just wondered as a cyclist I assume you also catch those other cyclists that jump red lights frequently. Are you also reporting them?

Will you also report cyclists who are cycling while using their phones? I see it regularly.