To be shocked at the number of people driving whilst on phones

[Ilovepastafortea]

DH & me recently took the coach to London. Being in a coach we were higher up and were shocked at the number of people with phones to their ears whilst driving. We started counting, then lost interest as there were so many.

We also saw people driving with their elbows while eating & drinking.

I have a friend who's son was killed as a result of someone driving into the back of them whilst on the phone.

Surely there's no excuse for it.

I have Bluetooth in my car so can talk to people whilst driving, but I don't unless it's a family call with a possible emergency in which case I will say 'hello <name> I'm driving ATM, is everything ok?' if it's not urgent, I will tell them that I will call them back. I wouldn't answer just for anyone, just family, just in case it's urgent.

So AIBU that more steps should be taken to make sure people aren't on their phones?

Yes they usually do because safe drivers are aware of the idiots and slow down. I always told my dds when they were learning to drive that they should assume everyone else on the roads is an incompetent idiot. It’s certainly served me well for 35 years.

Me too - LizzieSiddal Though I won't get into the car if driven by my oldest DS. He lives in LA (previously lived in Chiswick) and, frankly, drives like a maniac - all speeding & sudden braking, running lights etc. I've told him that it's up to him to kill himself if he choses, but I will never forgive him if he kills or injures one of my GC (his DCs) or anyone else. I was seriously injured when a passenger in a car accident when he was about 12-13 years old. Someone came around the corner on the wrong side of the road & it was a head-on collision at about 40mph. I sustained life-changing injuries and was in hospital for 8 months. I've had several operations since. He should know better than most what cars can do to people.

I don't understand how people can do it - I feel like i'm hideously distracted if I so much as turn the radio volume up while driving!

I suggest that if you are caught 'red handed' then its an on the spot ban ditto failing a drink or drugs test.

Its what they do in Victoria (Australia) for drink drivers

Dont get your licence back until you have paid all motoring fines, done the Naughty Driver course - and passed it

Then I suggest an interview with a probation officer to assess the risk of reoffending and an extended test

The Government is rolling out AI cameras that catch drivers for speeding, phone usage, no seat belt. Automatic fined & points on license.

There's no bluetooth in my car as it's ancient but I still won't use my phone in the car for anything.

It's not worth it. Maybe my college friends being involved in a fatal accident before I passed my test has left an impression.

The obvious point about 'no seat belt' is that about half the fatalities who were not wearing a seat belt were offending at the time so either

1. Haul them out of their vehicles on the spot for a good going over or.......
2. Whats the problem?

My car is old so doesn't have Bluetooth or any hand free devices like that, but I don't touch it when I'm driving, it's usually in my bag or coat pocket in the back or passenger foot well. I don't have sat nav or anything like that and if I need to check a route, I pull over and turn the engine off and look then.
If people call me, tough, you can wait, I have found some people do get irate, because no one seems to be able to wait 5 minutes for anything and moan about the call or message not being answered, when I explain I was driving it's met with "So?"
So I don't have hands free, don't want hands free and don't answer my phone while driving for your convenience. Leave a message, I'll call you back.

It needs to become as socially unacceptable as drink driving has, or smoking.

I have a voice controlled sat nav and hands free in my car. But both require you to take your eyes/attention off the road, even if only for a moment. I pull over somewhere safe in order to set the sat nav or to make a call, and I only answer a call if it is safe to do so, otherwise I ignore the phone and call back when I’m parked up.
I am a rarity. I’ve even seen someone doing 70 in the fast lane on the motorway texting on the phone. Idiot.

I agree. I was very aware, when driving with 3 DCs in the back that I would sometimes be distracted by them squabbling, wanting something, generally being a pain in the arse. But, the point is, that I was aware that I could be distracted and drove accordingly. I was very strict about not distracting mummy. I would pull the car over to sort them out. I would also have tapes (remember them?) with songs that we would sing together to keep them entertained. DS2 says it's all my fault that he's into rap as I used to get them to rap in the car: 'I see a cow and I'm wondering how....pick it up kids...'

Oh cripes you've given me a subject for another AIBU - mobile phones. DH & me went to a lovely concert last night. In the interval just about everyone was checking their phones. Watch this space....

I think touch screen controls in case are just as bad. I'm often telling DH off for faffing about with the radio/heating controls on the touch screen panel. When I changed my car I deliberately shunned the ones that had fancy touchscreen controls for everything in favour of knobs for heating/fan controls.
My phone is always in my bag when driving. I can answer calls from the steering wheel but prefer to decline them. I never connect up to get whatsapp messages.

Not if you’re driving which is most of the time that I see it.

Worth reiterating that cameras can (and did with me) detect phone use so just because there's not a police car nearby doesn't mean you're safe from getting caught.

In my job I often have to call people. I work for a Govt Agency. They know when I'm going to call - they have at least 48 hour's notice.

The number of times I call & can hear that they're driving & will say 'Are you driving?' Them: 'Yes' Me: 'are you the one driving?' Them 'yes' Me: 'I will rebook this appointment as Policy is that we can't discuss what we were going to discuss while you're driving. I will book this appointment for a face to face appointment. Goodbye'

Many people also don’t realise that if you’re involved in a severe accident, the police WILL look at your phone history that day. If you’ve been constantly on the phone, even if it’s hands free, it will be considered that you were not driving with due care and attention.

Mine is always on hands free and if I need directions I set maps up before I set off

Yes and on wrong side of road speeding not giving a toss if there is on coming traffic

and those stupid learner Mopeds seem to be multiplying. Do they ever pass a test