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.

From gov.uk:

*Using devices hands-free
You can use devices with hands-free access, as long as you do not hold them at any time during usage. Hands-free access means using, for example:

a Bluetooth headset
voice command
a dashboard holder or mat
a windscreen mount
a built-in sat nav
The device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.*

I’m not holding my phone. My phone is in a mount attached to the heater vents. I tap the screen to select a playlist whilst in stationary traffic. Not illegal at all

Report it. I have a friend who is well known for reporting and ends up in the media a lot. He does it as part of regular journeys.

Report for sure! It makes me so angry when I see it, people need to be stopped before the consequences are much worse.

The amount of times I can be driving behind someone and just from their driving say to myself ‘this person’s on their phone’ driving terrible - and lo and behold, pull up next to them or pass them when turning and there they are not looking at the road.

I guess I care more about cars as a car hitting me would kill me, a cyclist hitting me would not.

The data is quite clear - approx 1 person a year killed by a cyclist, 1000 per year killed by cars.

So - I'm minded to use my time to report something which is 1000x more dangerous

@CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease you didn’t say that. But anyway, please don’t. Please focus on the road and not what music you want to listen to.

@SeasonFinale OMG the whatabouttery about cyclists is insane 🙄🤬

As a fellow cyclist, please report. We take our sixth formers to Surrey's Safe Drive, Stay Alive and it's terrifying the damage a distracted driver can do.

The scenario of touching your phone to pay while at a drive-thru is covered in the guidance explicitly, though.

West Yorkshire Police say that 'hands-free' means by controlling the phone through the use of buttons in the car, not touching the phone screen. Although I don't know if that's all police forces.

I don't imagine OP does report cyclists jumping red lights. I don't suppose OP reports drivers jumping red lights. This is about car drivers on phones. Perhaps you didn't read the post carefully.

I have uploaded and reported dam right dangerous driving every week as a car driver on the portal. Every single one I have had an email back from the police saying they are going to trace the driver with a NIP.

Before the pile on, I only ever report deliberate dangerous driving as everyone makes mistakes, eg, people overtaking all the cars waiting driving through red lights, under taking everyone down bus lanes and cycle routes, tailgaters and cutting me up and slamming on.

Report every time, I only don't if I think they have had a lapse of concentration or mistake we all make, assholes report every single time.

I don't think using your phone to pay for a drive-through Costa etc can be legal within the strict definitions of the law, can it?

No it is just as dangerous as you are not aware of things around you. Nodding dog drivers looking down at their phone look up realise lights have changed and move off instinctively without doing proper checks, they miss the bike that has filtered in front, or the child that is still crossing in front of them.

Tell Hope Fennell’s Mum that the driver that killed her doing just that should be forgiven.

This. I bet a lot of them are parents on the school run too!

Yes it is there is a specific exemption to use you phone to pay at a drive through.

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

I kind of do, but I understand why it's technically illegal. I did do it once years ago when I was stuck in a big queue in snow to let my husband know I was safely back in our town but stuck in the said queue.

As for the cyclists can we please stop conflating bad cycling with bad driving They are not remotely the same in levels of seriousness. We need to concentrate on stupid driving as people who do that kill and injure other people. A stupid cyclist is annoying but very rarely dangerous, despite all the moaning about them.

No you’re not. These people need to mind their business - it’s not illegal to touch your phone if it’s mounted.

@CouldIHaveThatInEnglishPlease dont be so obtuse. 🙄

There’s not going to be a random pedestrian or cyclist wandering in front of you at a drive thru is there? Why are people SO wedded to their phones while driving they make every excuse under the sun to assuage their wrong doing. I lost a friend to a distracted driver 30 years ago - those ripples of pain are still damaging her family 30 years later. Is listening to the right tunes on your drive really worth that? 🤬

@Chocolateeggs its not illegal but it’s distracting and dangerous.

Imagine reporting someone for accepting a call or changing a track (mounted) while they’re at a red light? More people need to mind their business and maybe stick their noses in when it actually counts or if someone is in actual danger.

People that use their phones when driving are despicable. It only takes a second of not being aware of what's around you to cause a serious accident. Possibly even fatalities. But by all means, continue with your important phone conversation.

I had a woman right up my backside the other day, swerving and all sorts. I looked in my rear view and she had a dog on her lap. Some people are demented!!

Definitely report .....just don't get your hopes up that the police will actually do anything.
I reported my neighbour for drink driving and driving with no insurance, tax or MOT.
Yet, 6 weeks later he's still driving drunk with no insurance, tax or MOT 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Chocolateeggs imagine you’re changing tracks at the red lights. Looking at your phone. Scrolling through. You miss the lights change. Someone behind you beeps their horn. You look up fast and see the lights change and quickly pull away.

Only you didn’t notice the pedestrian that walked in front of you . . .

oh dear. Never mind though. At least you were listening to your favourite song 🙄.

Why would a pedestrian be walking out in front of a road where the lights are green 🙄. You people are so dramatic.

From gov.Uk

Exceptions
You can use a device held in your hand if:
• you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
• you’re safely parkedd_
• you’re making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, for example at a drive-through restaurant
• you’re using the device to park your vehicle remotely

YANBU