To think that if it is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving a vehicle, it must be made illegal to push a pram?

[llizzie]

I have just read this on another site which was discussing how the mobile phone is killing conversation.

  ''Saw an incident two days ago: Young mother pushing child in a pushchair was glued to her smart phone, not looking to where she was going. She was heading straight towards a fixed bollard at the side of the footpath. Last few seconds, she saw it, swerved suddenly, child rocked over to the side and hit bollard full face. Stupidity of the highest order. ''

If you had said that it’s sad to see so many people glued to their phones rather than engaging with their dc I might agree (might, occasionally, sometimes, maybe) but the safety bit and comparing it to driving is a stretch. Maybe we need hands free options on prams? Bluetooth?

The example could be a one off accident.

I used to fall over the pushchair/ my feet/ the air. I was just clumsy. Should I be illegal?

It amazes me that so many people cannot see the danger of using a mobile phone while pushing a pram. I posted it because I think there being a child involved makes it more serious than if two pedestrians collided while on their phones.

I am not surprised. Before I read the report it never occurred to me that a mother/babysitter/friend would use a phone while in charge of a toddler/baby.

I don't have one, nasty things. I cannot hold one or text, but I can type, thanks to surgery. So long as I can do that - and on a near blank keyboard, and remember the passwords I don't save, I am unlikely to have one, either.

One day people will stop using their brains and commit all their memories to the mobile phone. Will there be a future where no one remembers anything? Will they need to? Their GPS will show where they are every minute of the day.

That shouldn't take long. Is it that difficult to stop and take a call?

Perhaps it was a one off: I didn't see it. Does it have to happen more than once for people to see the serious side?

The problem with many things is that unless there is a law against it, people will do whatever they like. Not to stop when you take a call could cause any amount of problems.

There are double yellow lines on town streets to stop people parking. People just parked where there were no yellow lines, despite the dangers, no now almost all streets have double yellow lines.

We live in an age where if there isn't a law against it, we can do it, regardless of the wisdom of whatever it was.

Why not stop pushing the pram when the phone rings? Wouldn't you hope that someone else pushing your child would do that?

I cannot see what the image says.

You are on a site called Mumsnet, where people post a great deal about parenting experiences, but you didn't think people use their phones while in charge of a baby or toddler? When did you imagine they were posting?

We don't tend to have laws against things unless there's plenty of evidence it's dangerous, which there is for using mobiles while driving, but there isn't for using mobiles while pushing a pram.

I think it is illegal to push a pram with a car.

This thread is bonkers. It seems to me that the OP just doesn't like mobile phones and, as is pretty common, has singled out parents of young children as a lazy, easy target for their dislike. Some things never change,eh?

Spot on. She has a rant about mobile phones in one of the posts.

OP the problem is people being inattentive while pushing a pram FOR ANY REASON not just because they're on their phones!

People used to have pram accidents before mobile phones were even dreamt of. I wonder pre 1980 say how many children have been injured or killed because a person pushed a pram onto a road without paying attention to traffic? Quite a number I'll bet.

You're barking up the wrong tree.

Taking this at face value and not for the crazy idea it actually is....

1. you are right, it is illegal to drive while holding your phone (you can still take calls though - on hands free) and the fact it is illegal doesn't stop people doing it sadly. Why would this law be any different?
2. what would the punishment be? For driving points on your licence, potentially even losing your licence. What would it be for someone pushing a pram while using a mobile phone? Would calls on hands feee be acceptable?? That happens far more than you will ever know due to headphones

what about other things that cause a lapse in concentration?

Would you feel the same if the person was pushing a pram having a chat with another person walking with them? Surely that distraction is worse as they are talking, and also would be looking at the person they are talking to while walking. Or would you expect a mum and dad walking down the street to do so in silence and never make eye contact?

No because most people are capable of talking and walking at the same time without crashing into things. The odd freak incident does not mean we need a new law.

A lot of pedestrians don't look where they are going because they are looking at their phones, so I can see the issue. If they are pushing a pram they are putting themselves and the child at risk.

The other advantage is that if you put your phone away, it won't get nicked.

Actually the only reason most of them don't crash into things is because everyone else gets out of their way. They stare at their phone screens until the very last second and narrowly miss an impact on a regular basis.

My ultimate pushchair bingo is pushing one in between 2 parked cars while on your phone in one hand and dragging another one behind happens more often than I thought possible

Yes, it is. That's why it's illegal to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol level higher than x amount with consequences up to and including imprisonment, whilst it isn't illegal to be drunk in charge of a shopping trolley.

Absolutely

Age 14 I was pushing my cousin’s pram and hit a bollard - I wasn’t on my phone but chasing away to baby cousin in his pram facing me, pulling silly faces as we walked to make him laugh. So by your theory, no talking at all should be the rule.

Honestly, I really think some people need a hobby away from judging others.

What about pushing a pram and listening to music on one Bluetooth headphone

You’ve reminded me of the Rowan Atkinson sketch from the 80s, I think?, with the lamppost 😁

Are we just talking prams or are pushchairs and buggies included?

This thread is bonkers 🤣

well, I was walking holding DS once and I tripped. We both went down and and he had a black eye afterwards. I felt terrible. But it was a rare and unusual incident and did not stop me carrying him afterwards.

The pram hitting a bollardf thing sounds pretty bad, but that's got to be an extreme event surely. 99% of the time, there is little or no danger. If anything, it sounds to me like the mother didn't have the child strapped in very well.