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In N London, every fifth driver is on the phone (hand-held) so don't hold your breath.
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Thing is though, if someone's got a hands free kit fitted in their car which just comes through the speakers and has no obvious external fittings, how would all these extra policemen spot that the driver was on the phone, and not just talking to themselves/singing along to the radio?
Not really workable, imo, although a perfectly good idea given that a lot of people I know don't seem to be able to talk on a handsfree unless they look at the phone cradle (like people who look at the radio when they listen to it - weird!)
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OK - here's another question - since no one has yet said anything about manufacturers.
Most manufacturers have bluetooth somewhere on their spec sheets. I am sure that there are some people who will use bluetooth in their car, but never by a driver while driving. However, I would imagine that they will be few. I suspect that at least 99% of bluetooth use in vehicles is by drivers while driving - and manufacturers know this. And yet they continue to provide a feature on their vehicles, the only real purpose of which is to permit drivers to do something dangerous. Or am I wrong?
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But using the argument about providing something dangerous - isn't a cigarette lighter the same thing? Even a radio? Yep, you can use it whilst stationery, but I would think most people fiddle with the radio whilst moving.
At the end of the day, you can't legislate against everything - you need to use some common sense, and I would hate to see all mobile usage in phones banned.
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Just think how dangerous it is when I change the CDs in my multichanger that is in the boot...
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hang on a minute, shall we passengers aswell since talking to them whilst driving must equally distracting especially given the times you look to see what there doing.
calling for a ban on hands free kits is just taking nannying to the extreme, shall we just have cars with one seat and the only extra controls for indication and wipers as anything else may be played with whilst driving?
chris
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hang on a minute shall we passengers as well since talking to them whilst driving must equally distracting
Not true. And we've been here before.
see, for example www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=50...6
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They have not really take any action on hand held mobiles yet ! ! !
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This is a non-subject.
As we all know, it is possible with care to answer a call on a handheld mobile while driving without taking any untoward risk. Hands-free is obviously much better though.
All they achieve by saying hands-free mobile on the move is 'as bad as drink driving' is to underline something else some of us know: that driving after a few drinks can be perfectly safe.
I am aware that some here passionately disagree with all these contentions. I urge those of them who may bother to reply not to be too boring.
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>>As we all know, it is possible with care to answer a call on a handheld mobile while driving without taking any untoward risk. >>
Despite your final comment, I have to inform you that I vehemently disagree.
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Its frightening to think that such people are on the road there are enough dangerous distractions without adding to them.
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Lud, I agree with your contention that some people after a drink are perfectly safe drivers. Also, some people can answer the phone while driving perfectly safely. Equally, I know people who have smoked and passed 100.
That still doesn't make any of them safe taken over the whole population, which perhaps a more rational way to make the decision.
V
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Handheld phones are obvious nuisance as you have to fiddle with gear in one hand as well - so you have two hands for 3 objects - steering, gear stick and phone - for your 2 hands! (I'm leaving indicators/wipers anyway)
handsfree phone leaves your hand for other uses.
Regarding, distraction altogether - it depends with whom you're talking to (and on what topic)
Of course, speaking with wife/friends on phone during driving is much less dangerous than giving job interview on the wheels! In case of later, probably you'll concentrate more on conversation rather than driving ;)
Women brains are predominantly multi-tasking. So, they should be allowed to talk anyway anytime (at least it seems less dangerous than applying eye-liner during driving)
PS:
I often wonder those who drive automatics, how do they keep their extra hand/leg enaged.
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Where as in the past, a car slowing down in front of you for no reason, tended to be a driver engaged in a mobile phone conversation. The new trend seems to be drivers veering onto verges or drifting across lanes of the motorway as they fiddle with their sat. nav.
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All they achieve by saying hands-free mobile on the move is 'as bad as drink driving'
The TRL Report says that it's *worse* than drink driving.
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Just a question: if hand-held mobiles are illegal to use, why can you use CB radios?
Why not be draconian about things and ban all mobiles being used in cars. At the same time, ban all radios, satnav, smoking, passengers (especially children), driving when tired (ie when having had less than 8 hours sleep), driving at night, driving in fog, driving in the rain etc etc
Where does the line get drawn and people take responsibility for their own actions without being forced by some overly officious government?
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>>without being forced by some overly officious government?>>
Normally I would agree with you but, in the case of using a handheld mobile phone whilst driving, then I'm with the steps taken to ban such use.
Driving a car is difficult enough without having your concentration sharply diminished through a phone conversation.
As for passengers talking, at least they can see what is happening ahead and be quiet as and when necessary. Even my missus does that; normally, if her lips aren't moving at nineteen to the dozen, I think I've gone deaf.
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This is a non-subject. As we all know it is possible with care to answer a call on a handheld mobile while driving without taking any untoward risk.
Quite, Lud.
I've always viewed long journeys as a chance to catch up with all my phone calls.
It's perfectly possible to drive safely with one hand most of the time. And when it isn't, you just say "...'ang on a minute 'til I've passed this roundabout..."
If using a hand-held mobile whilst driving is so dangerous, and with so many people doing it; how come we've got amoungst the safest roads in the world?
How come A&E wards aren't full of hand-held mobile-phone drivers?
It's because the whole thing is yet another safety-hoax made up by people suffering from middle-class angst and nothing else to moan about.
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>>It's perfectly possible to drive safely with one hand most of the time. And when it isn't, you just say "...'ang on a minute 'til I've passed this roundabout...">>
Very sorry but, yet again, I have to vehemently disagree with you, just as with Lud.
The main point that seems to be completely missed in such arguments is that you cannot engage in a mobile phone conversation (or even a hands-free one for that matter) AND fully concentrate on what is happening on the road ahead.
You may get away with it even for some considerable time but, eventually, you will be caught out - just as so many people are even if they don't have a mobile phone in their hands; using a mobile phone substantially increases the chance of an accident, whether minor or serious, and whatever your speed at the time.
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I've always viewed long journeys as a chance to catch up with all my phone calls. It's perfectly possible to drive safely with one hand most of the time. And when it isn't you just say "...'ang on a minute 'til I've passed this roundabout..."
MEGA SNIPQUOTE!
I was tailgated by someone in lane 2 ( I couldnt get over) at 75-ish recently for a couple of miles. Throughout he was holding his phone, and at one point , let go fo the wheel entirely to scratch his head.
Anyone behaving like is has no regard for anyone else and in that situation was, unasked, chancing my life .
Whether we have good or bad accident stats is irrelevant- if we can make the roads safer still, we should.
And the earlier point about why does the law have to get involved - well, for years we hoped people would be responsible enough to modify their own behaviour, but even with encouragement they didn't. It was the same with belts.
And yes despite this people do still do these things- I see both laws broekn , on every journey. But it doesnt follow that should mean the laws are wrong.
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