Page 3 | Stopped for using mobile phone while driving

Alexandra2001 · 27/12/2024 17:48

Writtenout · 27/12/2024 17:43

That would be completely disproportionate

Show quote history

Why? a driver, slightly over the limit, doing 20mph in the middle of the scottish highlands, at 3am, will get a 12m ban.... iyho disproportionate?

I think not looking where you re going, in a 1.5 ton or heavier lump of metal, travelling at high speeds, should be treated very seriously, the consequences when it goes wrong involve death to innocent people.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 27/12/2024 17:48

NewWinger · 27/12/2024 17:33

You’ll probably get a Notice of Intended Prosecution within the next 14 Days, with the option to submit your plea, and state whether you wish to attend court. If you plead guilty but don’t wish to attend court (and really, there’s little reason why you should), you’ll probably be dealt with by was of Single Justice Procedure, with points and either a fixed penalty or a band A fine, typically 50% of your weekly income. There might also be costs of around £100 and a surcharge of 40%. I believe you should also tell your insurer.

As an aside, I do wonder if the new technology is an entirely good thing. I had a courtesy car recently, a 24 plate, and almost all controls were on a large screen. There was no way I could safely change the temperature or radio station while driving, and the screen was large enough and bright enough to be intrusive. I was happy to get my eight year old car back the next day.

My car has both the big dials and the on screen menus. I think it's better and safer to the have quick method you can use without looking.

fuzzychic · 27/12/2024 17:50

Six points, a fine and a massive increase in your insurance as there's a chance you'll kill someone if you do this

fuzzychic · 27/12/2024 17:51

Nilon · 27/12/2024 17:48

I am completely guilty of occasionally looking at my phone when stationary but this thread will put an end to it.

Why does it take a mumsnet thread to stop you doing this
Why are you doing it

Writtenout · 27/12/2024 17:53

Alexandra2001 · 27/12/2024 17:48

Why? a driver, slightly over the limit, doing 20mph in the middle of the scottish highlands, at 3am, will get a 12m ban.... iyho disproportionate?

I think not looking where you re going, in a 1.5 ton or heavier lump of metal, travelling at high speeds, should be treated very seriously, the consequences when it goes wrong involve death to innocent people.

Show quote history

I meant in relation to the scenario OP described.

Nilon · 27/12/2024 18:00

fuzzychic · 27/12/2024 17:51

Why does it take a mumsnet thread to stop you doing this
Why are you doing it

Show quote history

Because I foolishly thought it wasn’t that bad when stuck in traffic but I see now that it can creep into other times and just isn’t worth the risk

Original poster

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 18:01

CurlyhairedAssassin · 27/12/2024 17:46

What's the difference between being pulled over at the side of the road to being in a queue of traffic with your car in neutral and your handbreak on? My engine switches itself off after a bit.

I would never ever pick up my phone while moving in any way, but if I'm at lights which take ages with hand brake on and gears in neutral or stuck in a traffic jam on a motorway, then yes, I may pick up my phone to text whoever i need to that I'm going to be late (for work, or going home etc), "stuck in traffic, will be late" while glancing up every few seconds. I think most people do that, don't they? If the traffic started to move while I was doing that then I'd throw my phone down on the seat and the message just wouldn't get sent. I think it's similar to what I used to do if the kids were crying in their car seat and dropped their dummy - if stationary at lights I'd reach over to look for it and put it back in.

But I get that police will never be able to tell who is going to be responsible enough to throw the phone down with the text unsent if traffic starts to move and who would keep it on their lap and try to press send while moving, so they have to just treat everyone as though they'd be irresponsible.

Show quote history

Unfortunately it's against the law. I've been doing it too. Looking at phone when car is stationary, abandoning it when traffic starts moving. I think the problem is the temptation to just finish reading/sending the message as the traffic crawls forward.

Smartphones are so addictive and I'm definitely addicted to mine. Notification icons are really difficult to ignore. I have CarPlay, and I use it because I use Google Maps to navigate, and it does show other apps on my phone including notifications. I wonder if everything should be blocked except navigation apps and hands free voice calls.

I do use Siri to send essential messages (eg with ETA / running late etc) as that's hands free and fine. It's a pain though if Siri mishears and can be tempting to send a quick text while stationary.

In my city there is a lot of traffic so that compounds the problem I think.

None of these are excuses btw, I'm just saying that I'm human and these are the reasons I have done it, even though I know I shouldn't have.

OP posts:

Mespher · 27/12/2024 18:02

Bromptotoo · 27/12/2024 17:13

I'm neither more nor less concerned about the heating.

My point is that those who regulate this stuff happily allow equal or greater distractions to be baked in to car design.

Show quote history

Exactly, those cars should be banned that are like driving an iPad, I think from next year they are going to be marked down for safety , car manufacturers should not be allowed to use touchscreens in cars for everything

TinkerTiger · 27/12/2024 18:03

WinterMorn · 27/12/2024 16:31

@DrivingOffence what's that supposed to mean? That's my view and to be honest, given that you were totally in the wrong without any justification, it's what you should be given. There is absolutely no need to use a phone whilst in control of a car unless there is some sort of emergency.

No shit Sherlock

modgepodge · 27/12/2024 18:04

fuzzychic · 27/12/2024 17:50

Six points, a fine and a massive increase in your insurance as there's a chance you'll kill someone if you do this

Does anyone have the stats on how many people are killed each year by cars where the driver was using the phone while stationary?

Terrribletwos · 27/12/2024 18:05

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:20

Regular mumsnetter name changed for this as I'm very ashamed of myself.

I was driving, queuing in traffic (so not moving), looked at my phone for no good reason, I know this is illegal and irresponsible. I didn't notice there was a police officer on the other side of the road and he obviously pulled me over, took my license details and logged the offence. He asked why I was using my phone and I had to say I had no good reason, I didn't.

Could anyone advise me please what is likely to happen? I have looked it up and it seems that the minimum penalty is 6 points and a £200 fine, so I assume I'll get that. Is there a risk of further prosecution/penalties?

Any advice most welcome and feel free to tell me what an irresponsible idiot I am, I know I am but deserve a kicking tbh.

You should know by now it's an offence.

It's illegal. Take the hit. There's no excuse, quite rightly.

Original poster

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 18:07

Terrribletwos · 27/12/2024 18:05

You should know by now it's an offence.

It's illegal. Take the hit. There's no excuse, quite rightly.

Show quote history

You literally quoted my post in which I wrote "I know this is illegal" - to point out that I should know it's illegal?! Errrr. I do.

OP posts:

Terrribletwos · 27/12/2024 18:09

It doesn't matter whether you are stationery, in traffic etc. There has to be a blanket ban, quite rightly, or people would use this excuse all the time!!

Put your phone away whilst driving! There is no excuse whatsoever to have your phone whilst driving!

PrincessofWells · 27/12/2024 18:12

ClumsyBastard · 27/12/2024 16:23

Listen, stop beating yourself up. You made a mistake, you've taken/will take the consequences.

Give yourself grace, everyone makes mistakes.

Sorry, I don't know about the legal ramifications.

Actually I don't make the 'mistake' of using a phone whilst driving and I never will. You are minimising a potentially lethal offence. Please don't.

PortiasBiscuit · 27/12/2024 18:16

Well this takes the prize for the most “holier than thou” responses to a post. Well done everyone!

Original poster

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 18:18

Realistically, it must be vanishingly unlikely that you could cause an accident or injure anyone while stationary in your vehicle, but I think it's right that it's illegal to use your phone in that situation, because it is a slippery slope and too tempting to use and get distracted by the phone when moving slowly in traffic, etc etc. I hold my hands up and say that I needed this wake up call, it is illegal, irresponsible and unsafe, and I need to put my phone well out of reach when driving so I'm not tempted. However, I don't accept that I could have killed someone on this occasion, I think that's hyperbole. Not to say if I had continued my bad habits that they couldn't have got worse and I could have used my phone in more dangerous situations and hurt someone.

OP posts:

bluebalou · 27/12/2024 18:19

@modgepodge
Isn't even one person life enough , anyone with a brain knows it's dangerous , hence why the penalty is so high

SilviaDaisyPouncer · 27/12/2024 18:19

Mespher · 27/12/2024 18:02

Exactly, those cars should be banned that are like driving an iPad, I think from next year they are going to be marked down for safety , car manufacturers should not be allowed to use touchscreens in cars for everything

Show quote history

I'm with you. It makes no sense to have no dashboard except a large touchscreen. It's illogical that it's dangerous for me to press a button on my phone, but ok to operate a huge tablet with loads of menus.

PrincessofWells · 27/12/2024 18:20

SummerSnowstorm · 27/12/2024 17:10

Just chalk it up to bad luck. You were stationary so the most harm could've been someone behind having to wait, which is no different to if someone has to hand a toy to a crying baby whilst stationary at lights really.
A fine and points isn't a huge issue, dont add stressing yourself to it as thats worse than the points and fine and wont change the situation. Just be careful to follow rules from now on and treat it as a lesson.

Or they hold up the traffic behind because they don't notice the light changing to green, and when they do they fail to check their nearside mirror because they're in such a rush because they failed to see the lights, and collide with the bicycle in the cycle lane and have them off, causing weeks of misery, because they 'forgot' there's a cycle lane . . .

fuzzychic · 27/12/2024 18:22

Nilon · 27/12/2024 18:00

Because I foolishly thought it wasn’t that bad when stuck in traffic but I see now that it can creep into other times and just isn’t worth the risk

Show quote history

Fair play

PrincessofWells · 27/12/2024 18:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Terrribletwos · 27/12/2024 18:24

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 18:18

Realistically, it must be vanishingly unlikely that you could cause an accident or injure anyone while stationary in your vehicle, but I think it's right that it's illegal to use your phone in that situation, because it is a slippery slope and too tempting to use and get distracted by the phone when moving slowly in traffic, etc etc. I hold my hands up and say that I needed this wake up call, it is illegal, irresponsible and unsafe, and I need to put my phone well out of reach when driving so I'm not tempted. However, I don't accept that I could have killed someone on this occasion, I think that's hyperbole. Not to say if I had continued my bad habits that they couldn't have got worse and I could have used my phone in more dangerous situations and hurt someone.

Yep, you're right it is a slippery slope to first of all just glancing at your phone and then....

You don't need your phone when driving, it's dangerous and unnecessary. Put it away.

fuzzychic · 27/12/2024 18:24

modgepodge · 27/12/2024 18:04

Does anyone have the stats on how many people are killed each year by cars where the driver was using the phone while stationary?

Show quote history

The algorithm will think ahh person uses phone in car and therefore increase the chance they'll kill someone

Spectre8 · 27/12/2024 18:25

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 16:36

Thank you. I have no points on my licence so hopefully won't have to go to court. And will obviously have to be extremely careful and responsible when driving from now on to avoid any more points.

Show quote history

Have to be extremely careful and responsible?

You should always be driving carefully and responsibly, not just to avoid getting more points.

fuzzychic · 27/12/2024 18:26

DrivingOffence · 27/12/2024 18:18

Realistically, it must be vanishingly unlikely that you could cause an accident or injure anyone while stationary in your vehicle, but I think it's right that it's illegal to use your phone in that situation, because it is a slippery slope and too tempting to use and get distracted by the phone when moving slowly in traffic, etc etc. I hold my hands up and say that I needed this wake up call, it is illegal, irresponsible and unsafe, and I need to put my phone well out of reach when driving so I'm not tempted. However, I don't accept that I could have killed someone on this occasion, I think that's hyperbole. Not to say if I had continued my bad habits that they couldn't have got worse and I could have used my phone in more dangerous situations and hurt someone.

The problem isn't necessarily the using it while being still it's the moving off after just being distracted by the phone. During your stationary time the situation around you may have changed and you won't be aware of it.