Using mobile phone when driving

[40andnotsofabulous]

Hoping I can get some advice. I received letter this morning asking me to confirm if I was driver earlier this week on set road at set time as I had apparently been using my mobile phone.

It was definitely me driving and I was on phone at that time- checked records and I was on a works teams call. However, my phone set up is blue tooth to come through car, and as it was a phone call I can’t see why I would have been touching my phone at all (it sits in the central bit of car). I don’t play with phone in car, but even still I have double-checked messages etc and as I expected there is nothing sent. Am a bit confused- unless I literally moved the phone, but even the am not sure why I would.

The letter doesn’t give other details or say what the evidence is. I don’t want to dispute if it’s true, but I also don’t want to say I am guilty without checking it.

has anyone been in this situation? Do they send the photo or evidence after you confirm you are driver?

Posting in AIBU for traffic. Fully appreciate if using phone while driving then it is unreaonable behaviour and so makes sense to get the fine, but this is not what I am disputing! Thanks in advance.

Agreed! It’s definitely less distracting than passengers in the car. Using a phone through Bluetooth or hands free IS NOT ILLEGAL in the Uk. And nor should it be.

Mumsnet is generally completely ridiculous when it comes to stuff like this.

it is theorised by researchers that conversations with passengers are modulated because both the driver and passengers can see what is happening on the road [5].

theorised
Theorised (British English) or theorized (American English) is the past tense and past participle of the verb "theorise," meaning to develop a set of ideas, conjectures, or hypotheses about something. It refers to creating tentative explanations for phenomena based on uncertain or speculative grounds rather than confirmed fact, often used in scientific or intellectual contexts.
Vocabulary.com +2

My DH works for a big American based but multinational company and if he was found to be using his phone even hands free for work whilst driving he'd get into trouble. The expectation is that he'd pull over to take a call. It's a company mobile so I guess theoretically they could check.

Then isn't talking to passengers just as risky? How about a screaming kid in the backseat?

may I make two points

Firstly what about if the OP had been stopped and breath tested and found to be just below the limit?

Secondly there are a lot of things that can distract the driver and 'degrade' their ability to drive. From a legal and enforcement perspective there are things where you have some evidence that they are dangerous AND are easy to quantify.

So Drink Drivers and Mobile Phone users are common and easy to target. My ex wife having her usual meltdown in the car is not

You’ve not quoted me, but I assume this is aimed at me?

Point one - she would’ve been waved on her way, all good,

Point two - I’ve no idea what your point is

Your ex-wife having a meltdown when she’s with you, again no comment. Presumably she’s rectified the situation because she no longer your wife.

May I point out using a mobile hands free is not illegal.

I am not aiming at anyone in particular just making an observation.

You have obviously not taken my point that many of us might regard driving while very close to but not over the legal alcohol limit is not very responsible even if its legal as you are measurably impaired by that point.

Evidence of mobile phone use can include officer testimony. Also, do bear in mind that even if using hands free, you can still be accused of driving without due care and attention, so making or receiving a phone call of any description can still be illegal (my friend got 6 points and a fine after contravening a yellow box junction whilst on a hands free phone call as they weren't paying attention).

Your point is a view, I take that, I disagree with it, but that’s my view!

However, your quote

Now pardon my French BUT it seems to me that if you dont realise that you cant have a phone call let alone a teams meeting and drive at the same time then there is something wrong with you - call it 'car brain' and you are not 'fit and proper' to hold a driving licence. If nothing else you should disqualify yourself.

Is wrong on so many levels, taking a phone call hands free does not mean “they have something wrong with them, they are not fit and proper, or they should “disqualify” themselves”

I can see why your ex wife had meltdowns, when you think because you “think” something it’s actually true and you can accuse other people that there is “something wrong with them”, it’s what’s known as gaslighting.

Anyway, FYI I’m not changing my habits because others can’t risk assess.

I'm a Genius and modest with it 😀

I’m not so sure, quite a number of your posts seem nonsensical on this thread, I’ve not done an AS.

But certainly in here, I feel you’ve weakened your case, by saying there is “something is wrong with you”, mentioning your ex wife and her “meltdowns”, both derogatory and I feel makes you think your “opinion” is right.

I didn’t ask if you ask people if they’re over the DD limit? That presumably would be obvious!

You presume? I take it you don’t get out much?

Sorry I don’t understand your dig at me? Do explain? I go out lots for what it’s worth, I’m aware of people drinking with ne then driving home? I don’t tend to get into car with randoms. .

I'm surprised at some of these replies. Surely talking on the phone, hands free where you're not looking at a screen is no different to having a conversation with a passenger in the car? How is it any more distracting than that? Similarly pressing a button to answer or hang up doesn't seem any different to turning on the radio?

If you're on video and are focusing on the screen then of course that's ridiculous.

Yes screaming kids are a danger too. I wonder how many accidents are caused by parents turning round to talk to their kids?

Im interesting in why people seem to be getting so defenisve and angry about what the research says.

Exactly!

I think they say the difference is that passengers can also read the road as they are physically present with you. So, if you're at a busy roundabout or a car breaks suddenly in front of you, your passenger reacts too and knows to pause the conversation.

Screaming kids is something else but hopefully.most parents don't turn around and take their eyes off the road.

You do know that OP was t on video, don’t you?

This is always trotted out, you’re “angry and defensive”, because you dare to bring up counter arguments and defend yourself?

Surely, the whole point of a counter argument is to defend yourself? No?

I don't take any calls when I'm driving. But there is a big difference between a short call to let someone know you're on your way etc, and and a meeting where you need to listen carefully, give some serious thought to a suggestion, or make complex decisions. The latter takes a lot of your attention away from driving, and other road users.

Statistics show that hand-free calls are still very dangerous, and I don't think that any company should allow their employees to join team calls when driving.

That reminds me of all the people who used to say that they drove better when they'd had a drink.

Even if the passengers are in the rear seat?

Were you in OPs teams meeting, most of mine I turn the video off, mute myself and use the time to tidy my desk!

But maybe OP is a brain surgeon and it was a multidisciplinary meeting for a patient?