Safe Speed Forums

Well it won't be long before the new mobile phone law comes into effect. In fact the 27th February 2007, see's it being the date for a lot of people to start worrying.

No, doubt that after this day it will see the public order arrests go up when motorists here that they will get points as well as a fine.

Will this new law make the roads safer or just make the courts more busier with more and more motorists pleading not guilty due to the penalty carrying points.

Well, who knows i suppose we will jsut have to watch this space and see how the motorsists will respond in a positive or negative attitude.

stephen

Well unless you have lots of cops out there looking for these twits - hardly going to cop 'em at it.

Speak for Wildy here as well - but am well documented on the motoring sites as being anti-mobile phone - especially in cars, in theatres, cinemas, nice restaurants " of the unwind and romantically wine and dine my wife in style she deserves type"

Like any other gadget - has to be used properly and responsibly. I see no good reason to use one whilst driving a car or riding a bike. I cannot understand why people want to be a slave to the phone or want to be mithered by other folk over trivialites as a constant.

Might make roads safer if means they concentrate more on their drive. but even with hands free ... depends how much they concentrate on the chat and not the road. And to me phones require a little more concentration as you are deducing mood of the other person by voice and not by facial/hand gesture or even physical presence

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Couldn't agree with you more MM. I bloody hate mobile phones. Well, don't so much hate them as hate the way they are used. Sure, very useful for a quick social 'we're down the pub mate, you joining us' call. And last month when my car radiator collapsed at night on an unlit NSL dual carriageway I was very glad I had my mobile to hand. However, I don't understand or see the point in those who spend hours yakking away on social calls in public places annoying the hell out of everyone within a 50 yard radius. Or walking down the street glued to their phone totally ignorant to anything bar the bit of tarmac in front of their feet (but of course it's the motorist's fault if they walk blindly out in from of them). And as for flaming ring-tones?? What is the point? You get 5 seconds of shite-quality audio that irritates everyone nearby before having to cut it out and answer it. If you want music, play the tune full-length on a decent quality audio system in the comfort of your own home.

But above all, I really cannot stand anyone talking on their mobile when driving. Sorry, but nothing is THAT urgent that it cannot wait a minute or two whilst you pull over. And all phones are equipped with caller-id or voicemail for incoming calls should it be urgent to the caller. And although far better than hand-helds, I still disagree that hands-free kits are not a distraction. There's the argument that it's no worse than talking to a passenger; but at least a passenger is able to see current hazards and/or be aware that you are still there and not start hassling should you not respond immediately. However, it is the 21st century so I suppose we do need to accept the age of mobile comms. If that means allowing hands-free kits then so be it (any law would be unenforceable anyway, although it wouldn't surprise me if they were developing some kind of mobile-phone signal camera ).

I'm all for points for hand-held mobile phone users though. There is simply no need for it.

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Why can't we just use Common Sense?

Depends how they apply the law (which is VERY badly written)

Probably the first person who gets busted on the phone whilst stationary in a supermarket or pub carpark may be a bit miffed (CCTV convictions)

Also will there be a reduction in 999 calls from divers in the car because people are not sure about the law and don't want to take the risk.

And what exactly is the true definition of hands free?

Als why is a mobile phone the instrument of satan but a hand held 2 way radio is considered perfectly safe.

Its a crap law drafted with good intentions but bogged down in its definitions and application.

Also why are cyclist exempt?

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Speed camera policy Kills

The worst aspect is that it legitimises hands-free phoning when ALL the science says that the conversation is the problem.

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As I've said before on here, I believe using a hand-held mobile is a fairly good proxy for other kinds of bad driving behaviour. But as it is an offence that can only be dealt with via a pull from a flesh and blood police officer, don't expect a wave of prosecutions.

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pull over where? onto the hard shoulder?

[qquote]And all phones are equipped with caller-id or voicemail for incoming calls should it be urgent to the caller.[/quote]

Which is completely worthles since almost no corporate phone systems provide Caller ID



Indeed, in my experience of both, hands free kits are WORSE than a hand held, mainly due to sound quality issues. Holding the phone is irrelevant, especially if your car has an automatic gearbox.

Has anyone compared the safety implications of talking on the mobile phone to have someone "guide you in" in realtime vs trying to find somewhere that's really well hidden, on your own using a map or a printout from google maps that has since turned out to be completely wrong?

Well OK, if it is so urgent that you really need to talk to someone and you're under motorway restrictions then turn off at the next junction or service station. However, if it really is such a life or death emergency then the hard shoulder is suitable - just flash yer hazards.



I know and a pain in the arse they are as well! But in a dire, urgent situation voicemails can be left and followed up by text messages



In the distant past, I have used a hand-held mobile whilst driving on a couple of occasions. I found them such unnerving experiences that I vowed never to do it again (this was well before the current law was introduced). Have briefly tried hands-free calls but still found it deeply distracting, (all with a manual gearbox - I have never driven an automatic).



I've done the latter many times but have never had anyone talk me in via phone. I can normally find a general area via AutoRoute or Google print-outs without any problems. But if I need finely detailed local directions then I'll pull over and phone my contacts. And that's all without SatNav

I do have to wonder - how did we cope a mere 10 years ago when the majority did not have mobiles and SatNav was pure Sci-Fi? And I'm only 30

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Why can't we just use Common Sense?

We begin coasting, and look for a better place to stop if it's gonna be a long call.

In a recent thread, IIRC we showed that the legislation is so poorly written that the majority of mobile phones are not mobile phones for the purposes of this law and so can be used with impunity.

If you follow the link, my basic argument is that the regs says that two-way radios can be used and defines those to be any device designed to send and receive spoken messages designed or adapted to operate on any frequency that is not in a number of specified ranges. Thus, for example, a mobile phone that has bluetooth or WiFi capability is a device designed to send and receive spoken messages and can operate on an unbanned frequency, so is thus a two-way radio for the purposes of this law, and so handsfree use is permitted.

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Will

They should not be exempt as riding in traffic with one hand on bars und the other holding phone to ear und mind engaged in conversation ist really rather dangerous - especially given the state of roads und poor quality resurface ager road works.. not to mention the other traffic who have to negotiate their one handed control wobbles

They no more concentrate or handle bike better than the driver when on a phone...

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Very few calls are that urgent. I just left message on Mad Doc's voice mail to tell him to call as soon as he listen to message. My phone ist hand free .. but if I do take call .. they get .. "am driving .. will call back in when I reach next services or whatever. "

But I count on one hand the number of time this phone get used really.



Exactly. No one should be expected to answer phone immediately like that - especially if employed to drive. Employer should respect that not always possible for his rep to talk on phone when busy driving und rep should ensure he make at least a stop every two hour for break, coffee, leg stretch und taking those calls.



Have never used handy held Handy when driving. Have handy free doo-dah.. but as said rarely use it as I like to enjoy my drives .. even in a traffic jam



It was more fun in the good old days. Und I still plan my routes with a proper map Ist a skill .. I do not want to lose or blunt it by not using it. Und I do same.. I even stopped by a police van once when lost in a 'burb - und very lovely policeman even told me to follow him as was a "bit complicated to explain".

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Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

As somebody who only owns a mobile because it was given as a cast off, and the only reason it is not in the bin is because it is handy for emergencies, I have to ask, if a call is so urgent that you need to be reached while on the move, then it can only lead to S T R E S S ! ! !

Even if you have a job such as service engineer where your schedule needs updating, then the phone should be ignored until it is safe to pull off the road, and you are able to call back.
Better still a text should be employed.

Even so too many times now, I have seen people pull off the road into a bus stop or opening at very little notice because the driver has received a phone call.
In the old days, engineers and the like simply checked it at each job location.
Then we had PAGERS which alerted you that you needed to find a phonebox, whithout the need to jeopardise yours or other road users safety.
Anything wrong with that?

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

The trouble with mobile phones and driving is that many people use their vehicle as their office and the phone is vital to them. It has already been said, but why is talking on a hands free any different to talking to a passenger? I say a highways person holding a dictaphone to his mouth while driving on Friday, shortly after witnessing a woman crash into a parked van while on the phone. She was walking and crashed her childs pushchair into the van . It made me laugh anyway..

Surley the problem is driving without due care and attention, not weather or not you have a particular communication device about your person or not.

Just come in from walking the dog.

I saw a Vectra going down a main road, straddling the white line, fortunately only one other car whose driver gave him a blast of the horn. As he passed me, I saw he was texting with both hands. Must have been steering with his penis!

Because the passenger is physically in the car and they are aware of the road conditions and will at least know why you are only half listening to them.

Person on the othr end of the phone will not be aware of hazards you are responding to and business calls are more involved by nature than idle chit chat.

A car is a car. It gets you from A to B. It's not an extension of your office desk. Not even for our lads and lasses out there on partol





But the communication can take away the attention from the road and too many will get engrossed in their conversation.

We have the same argument over eatiing apples, holding drinks whilst driving .. can undermine control and handling. No need for it really ..


Now I know that police are on radios etc and in contact with pursuit management in many an extreme situation.. and don't really want to chuck out the "cos we been trained" routine. But this is two way as well - the officers will be reporting back and also using judgement on the ground. Normally the partner will be doing the talking whilst the driver drives... Gets a bit trickier when our guy's on his own.. but then he will call for back-up anyway.

I see no logical argument for texting either

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Nothing at all wrong with a pager. It's a case of re-educating the mind back to a tried and tested professional driver policy which worked fine, did not undermine the job nor safety on the road.

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Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

When I am in the car I usualy put the phone on silent. That way I can catch up on calls, answer voicemail etc when I get the chance. It removes the temptation to answer the call or look who is trying to get hold of me.

I have used hands free phones but for work the conversations can be "intence". the last thing you want to do when you are driving in heavy traffic. Some people just wont take the hint.

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Speed camera policy Kills

All I can say is this:-

Come past me at 100+ mph on the M6 motorway in free-flowing conditions and I am quite relaxed, after all it's your licence. I don't feel in any danger, after all, I always look very carefully before I pull out into the 3rd lane to overtake the usual lorry race in lanes 1 & 2.

Tailgate me while yacking away on a mobile phone and I get rather cross and would really like to shoot you dead, frankly.

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Good manners maketh a good motorist

Once saw a cyclist on a mobile phone. Left hand on his handlebars, the right holding the phone to his right ear. So he could not hear though his right ear, nor could he see very well to the right. He was zig zagging across the lane with little regard to anything that could be behind him. I do not think cyclists should be exempt from this law.

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