Why do so many drivers still hold and use a phone while driving?

[Dbank]

I notice a large percentage of drivers still illegally "holding and using" mobile phones whilst driving.

(For clarity, you are allowed to touch and use a phone when it's secured in a holder, or handsfree, it's holding and using that is illegal)

There is never any justification. Even ignoring the fact that most people have Bluetooth or some form of hands free, there is no reason why looking at your phone is more important than someone’s life. It’s the height of selfishness and disregard for others.

They are addicted to their phones

They don’t think they’ll cause an accident

They don’t think they’ll be caught (they probably won’t either)

I'm not happy with the touch the screen on a holder thing either. Fine for satnav but I see drivers watching tiktoks etc in the car.
Since I've WFH I'm grateful to not be on the road with these people as often. I'm going to the office tomorrow and I hate it, 2 hours on the motorway and a million roundabouts with so many people blatantly on their phones. I hug my children extra tight because I genuinely worry about not making it home with so many distracted drivers on the road.

Because they're fucking idiots who should not be behind a wheel.

because they are to use that good old fashioned term 'Moral Defectives'

But should be behind bars

I set my phone to the driving setting so no alerts get through and certain people (kids and oh) get an automatic bounce back text to say I'm driving if they text me. I play Spotify though my phone/bluetooth. Start playlist before I set off and phone not touched again until parked up

I used to love driving. Now it feels more dangerous than when we sat in the footwell of friends overloaded cars.

This and getting distracted on their phones at traffic lights is getting ridiculous.

There are lots more dash cams about and lots of people submit footage to the police. Those using their phones could be captured and reported by anyone.

I think people have become addicted to their phones, unable to resist quickly checking for new messages, likes etc. Kids walking to school are on their phones whether on their own or in a group, so it’s not surprising that many adults seem incapable of leaving it in the glove compartment when they are driving.

My brother was killed because of a driver “quickly checking his phone”. His selfish lack of control, respect for the road, addiction, destroyed 5 lives. I think phones should switch off automatically the moment you’re detected sitting in the drivers seat.

So I can use my phone, in the holder, to browse through my playlist or read a message as long as I don’t take it out of the holder? Surely not! That’s mental.

Because there’s no enforcement of laws anymore.

I accept that they are selfish twats etc, but it's such a high percentage I seriously wonder why they don't use a holder or handsfree.

Perhaps they know the chance of being nicked is virtually zero.

I try to challenge people when I can, but I wish more people would do it.

Correct, there isn't any specific legislation around using a phone in a holder, other than you mustn't be distracted while driving. (i.e. same as eating, drinking or reading a map etc)

The legislation ONLY applies to Holding and Using a device. It's worth having a read of the link in the OP.

I was told that the whole idea of the phone in holder is because at least if your phone is higher up, you can still see the road compared to viewing your phone when it’s lower down and you have no visibility of the road.

Either way, drivers are horrible these days. And I agree with all PPs - there is a massive phone addiction that’s affecting all areas of life - it’s scary that drivers can be so selfish.

How do you set it to this setting? I like this idea and want to start doing this too.

I’ve got an iPhone and the driving settings are under the “Focus” section in my settings.

Stupidity. There's absolutely no need for it. I was on a major trunk road last week and saw a bloke holding his phone and watching a video.

I’ve seen someone watch a full on episode of something while driving. And there’s no way to upload the dash cam footage anywhere where I am.
Today I had to wait for someone who was at a give way, completely unaware of a clear path because he was grossly deep in his phone.

it’s terrifying anyone thinks it’s ok. Mine goes into the automatic driving focus mode. I have CarPlay and I like how limited it is. Although I often see people ask in groups how they can watch YouTube etc…. They’ve missed the whole fucking point 🤣

I don't understand why you can smoke while you drive. I'd rather drop my phone then a cigarette if anything happened.

I don't use my phone while driving and I don't smoke.

It just seems like madness to me.

I’m so sorry
I drive a van so am much higher up and I see this all the time too. Lots of eyes downwards instead of watching the road, phone held in hand whilst talking into the loud speaker, total absorption at idle moments in traffic. I’ve pulled up alongside numerous cars who are holding phones and give them a look to show that I’ve clocked them (and in one instance, shouted) and get nothing but verbal abuse back in return, and one man who decided to pull ahead of me and slam on his breaks on a busy M4 - I need to get a dash cam.

People are so entitled these days and yes, completely addicted to their mobile phones. The aggression they show is alarming though and I agree, they have the disregard of those that know they won’t be caught out.

My phone is mounted and in CarPlay mode with either silence or a Spotify playlist.

Yeah, I did actually read the link but thought I must be missing something. That loophole is a bit crazy IMO. Maybe they think that the holders are usually attached to the air vent or windscreen so your eyes would be nearer the road itself than if you held it, as your eyes would be looking down.

I think it’s because phone use became so ubiquitous prior to laws coming in that it’s now very difficult to police due to the sheer volume of the offence v resources they have available. On the face of it, the risk to life should be enough to persuade people it’s a bad idea but as OPs have said, people think it (an accident or more likely, getting caught) won’t happen to them. I live near a school and I’d say approximately 50-60% parents I observe pull up using their phones, so the message really isn’t getting through. Cyclists can be very helpful as their cameras are often in an advantageous position for capturing offenders and I know some cyclists provide footage to police, which helps secure successful conviction. I guess pedestrians could do the same.