New Mobile Rules

[tanneman]

It was a tongue in cheek comment and not to make light of those who have suffered at the hands of the inconsiderate.

To Amanda's friend my condolences. But the weak and brain dead walk amongst us and there are 2 ways of protecting ourselves. Have your head on a swivel or kill the the weak links which would also help our species survive on this planet. I may sound drastic here but it is the way I reason. Training, fines and encouragement is not going to solve the problem on its own, these people needs to be removed from the gene pool.

By the way, this past month the missus and me acquired some new vehicles and one of the first things I have done is to fit 2 of these little gadgets. I can recommend it, cheap and does the job. My car has BT so any calls are answered by a push of a button on the steering wheel.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/23208331 ... 636&crdt=0

[fontana]

You can't make a statement like that and not get pulled up on it. I 'really' don't know who 'the hysterical green left' are. What does it mean? It sounds like one of those bulshit terms used by the gutter press to me .

I used to deny it as well, but they are out there, en mass.
Basically anarchists.
They call themselves progressive Liberals.
We've seen their violent protests, and trouble making tactics.
Perhaps you haven't.
This from the USA, but we've had similar in the UK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo35TX8t_6Y

So what's the connection between this, and the gentle pursuit of cycling I here you ask,
Well this paper may go some way into explaining the connection, and why cycling has been traditionally latched on too by political activists.

https://thinkingaboutcycling.com/social ... e-bicycle/

[Topcat]

We had this from our safety dept late last year and were encouraged to share with family and friends.

Powerful stuff, you can watch at work with the sound off as the subtitles say it all.

Not gory btw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ARBm_9U_ec

[fontana]

The only way you counter these idiots is to come down on them hard with penalties.
It's won't eradicate the problem, but may make people think twice.
It's been said that using a hand held phone has the same effect on concentration as being over the prescribed alcohol limit.
So why aren't we banning drivers caught on the phone.
As for this guy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INcvPmRFpek

[slparry]

I still think this is one of the best public service films made that shows the catastrophe from using a phone at the wheel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LCmStIw9E

and the reality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7911kgJJZc

[fontana]

I don't believe these shock tactics do much.
People don't care because they think it will never happen to them.
Educate people about the potential danger they are causing to themselves and others, and they don't care.
Threaten to hit their wallets, and licenses, and suddenly they care very much.

[dave the german]

I don't believe these shock tactics do much.
People don't care because they think it will never happen to them.
Educate people about the potential danger they are causing to themselves and others, and they don't care.
Threaten to hit their wallets, and licenses, and suddenly they care very much.

I agree that shock tactics don't appear to work and think most people think it won't happen to them. How many people do you still see using their phones whilst driving knowing if they get caught they will be fined and get points on their licence? - I think they same applies here - they think they won't get caught - the fine and points aren't a deterrent because the Police presence is too low

[Grip Fast]

Yes, it is serious stuff. I was involved in a head-on collision on 5th November 1968, as a passenger in an Austin 1800. We were hit by a drunk driver in an MG Midget who came round a bend on the wrong side of the road. The two drivers were badly injured, but I had a miraculous escape with only facial cuts from windscreen glass, one of which was through my right eyelid, but it didn't damage my eye.

I remember the surgeon thought I was a girl (he kept calling me "miss" - it was the long hair and youthful good looks), so took extra care, he said, to do lots of small stitches to minimise the scarring. It was agony - the local anaesthetic didn't work.

I hardly ever think about it now, but for many years afterwards, I hated being a passenger, especially at night. Not knowing if the lights coming towards us were on the correct side of the road or not.

But those videos brought it back, and yes, it's a serious responsibility driving a car or riding a bike. I wouldn't use a phone while driving, hands-free or not.

[milleplod]

The offence of 'dangerous driving' adequately covers the more serious outcomes of using a mobile at the wheel. I don't think a zero-tolerance policy would be constructive, or supported for that matter. As has been said before, the real problem is the lack of enforcement. I see PCSOs wandering around locally, on a daily basis, who don't seem to be doing much - speaking to them confirms that suspicion. They could (should) be gainfully employed standing at the roadside looking for offences - its not difficult, its what I used to do as a probationer, except back then it was tax discs or bald tyres we were after. There's no real will within the police to do anything about it though - a few soundbites from someone climbing the promotion ladder, a government minion spouting the odd 'something must be done'....sure, they've upped the punishment, but it doesn't really mean anything if no one's out doing the job!

Pete

[slparry]

Very true, I commute 25 miles each way daily and see at least a couple of people using phones during that commute.

Given the increase in dashcams nowadays, north Wales police have asked members of the public to send in footage of such offences so "perhaps" things will change in north Wales

Of course the flip side is that any fast overtakes will also be captured and could be sent in, although I'm guessing that it may be difficult to accurately prove the speed of such an offence from a cheapo camera

[Herb]

I wonder if there is a technology solution to this, to prevent drivers using phones at the wheel? Surely Apple, google and the car manufacturers must be able to come up with a software based solution that prevents drivers using the phone, but allows passengers to use theirs?

This will become more of an issue with the drive to fully connected vehicles.

[fontana]

I wonder if there is a technology solution to this, to prevent drivers using phones at the wheel?

Probably, but then you'd also block passengers who are legally allowed to use their phones in a vehicle.

[kfrogzx7]

The offence of 'dangerous driving' adequately covers the more serious outcomes of using a mobile at the wheel. I don't think a zero-tolerance policy would be constructive, or supported for that matter. As has been said before, the real problem is the lack of enforcement. I see PCSOs wandering around locally, on a daily basis, who don't seem to be doing much - speaking to them confirms that suspicion. They could (should) be gainfully employed standing at the roadside looking for offences - its not difficult, its what I used to do as a probationer, except back then it was tax discs or bald tyres we were after. There's no real will within the police to do anything about it though - a few soundbites from someone climbing the promotion ladder, a government minion spouting the odd 'something must be done'....sure, they've upped the punishment, but it doesn't really mean anything if no one's out doing the job!

Pete

With all due respect Pete, and I acknowledge that you know more about it than I do, I think zero-tolerance, coupled with genuinely punitive sanctions are popular policies with the overwhelmingly law abiding majority.
If penalties are set and imposed at a level that is truly "correctional" and the police announce that every offence will be rigorously investigated and prosecuted, it will force the mindless to take heed. After a few high profile prosecutions are publicised then the numbers of people committing any given offence will inevitably decline dramatically and hey presto there's less need for expensive bobbies on the beat.
Every time the police / authorities abrogate their responsibility over a seemingly trivial matter the minority who are so inclined take it as licence to push the boundaries further.
If we had zero tolerance of littering our country, for example, it would increase the quality of all our lives enormously, and would sow the seeds of an understanding of civic duties and community cohesion in the small minds of those who don't seem to be capable of independent thought.
A £2000 fine might be appropriate ?
Similar approaches to cyclists jumping red lights, drivers using phones or lighting cigarettes behind the wheel etc etc would reap benefits, and if you show you care about the smaller things the bigger things look after themselves.

[slparry]

Hard to argue against that Simon

[Al]

We went to Tobago last year, $1000 fine for littering, it appeared to work, far less crap around than here. But I still think it is a lack of police presence, I drive 250-300 miles a week and most weeks never see a copper and when I am on the bike filtering at least 1 in 5 car drivers are using a phone in some way, and as said previously PCSO's wandering aimlessly round town looking bored, hardly a deterrent for anyone!!

Al.