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View Full Version : Using mobile phone while driving - law changing?


glsuk1970
07-03-08, 11:44 AM
Just had an email from our UK head office about the use of mobile phones whilst driving. Part of it says..." the company is fully aware of impending European legislation which will see it illegal to use a phone in a car under any circumstances whilst the vehicle is on the road and the engine is running, this is likely to be with us before the end of the year".

Anyone else heard of this? Good thing, bad thing?

Personally I think this is taking things too far as there's a multitude of other measures that could improve the safety and standard of the current driving public.

Also, how would this law be enforced? How would a police officer know that I was on the phone and not singing/talking to myself etc without either examining my phone or contacting my phone provider? There's too few police patroling the UK highways anyway so the chances of being caught are pretty slim, especially with discretely fitted hands-free kits.

This just seems to be another law that's being passed so the powers that be appear to be doing something rather than actually doing something.

Rant over, thanks for listening.

the_lone_wolf
07-03-08, 11:57 AM
next on the list of driving don'ts - conversations with your passengers

ball gags available at all reputable petrol forecourts and motorway service stations

;)

Grinch
07-03-08, 12:11 PM
They cross reference the time of the calls to the time you where pulled, if they match, your done for it.

Personally I see it as a good thing as its all very distracting...

G
07-03-08, 12:16 PM
I rarely ever see police on the road on my journeys and I do nearly 30k a year.

I see people every day on their phones.

It will NEVER make a difference.

Some people are more than capable of using a phone whilst driving, some people shouldnt even be on the road, let alone on the road using a phone....does this mean EVERYONE should be stopped.

I sit on the fence on phone/car discussions every time.

metalmonkey
07-03-08, 12:21 PM
They cross reference the time of the calls to the time you where pulled, if they match, your done for it.

Personally I see it as a good thing as its all very distracting...

+1, I think I have covered this enough in other posts.

on the point on the number of us on the road, there just ain't enough of us my team is regular under manned.

wyrdness
07-03-08, 12:28 PM
Just had an email from our UK head office about the use of mobile phones whilst driving. Part of it says..." the company is fully aware of impending European legislation which will see it illegal to use a phone in a car under any circumstances whilst the vehicle is on the road and the engine is running, this is likely to be with us before the end of the year".

I can't find anything on Google about this. Would have thought that there'd be something.

Warthog
07-03-08, 01:41 PM
I see people every couple of days on a phone. If I was a bike cop I could just pull them over dead easily. But no, the cops seem to all be sat in the vans measuring our crazy dangerous speeds.

glsuk1970
07-03-08, 01:45 PM
I can't find anything on Google about this. Would have thought that there'd be something.

Same here, I'm hoping that someone on here might be able to enlighten us.

Blue_SV650S
07-03-08, 02:43 PM
So taking passengers will be outlawed soon as you can talk to them .. and as for taking kids, that is something I'd like to see abolished before using mobiles (with hands free) being abolished ..

I wonder what percentages of crashes, certainly near misses (I hate that term, a near miss is a hit!!!!) where the driver has been distracted by their kids misbehaving .. I've had a few myself!! :shock:

metalmonkey
07-03-08, 02:48 PM
Same here, I'm hoping that someone on here might be able to enlighten us.

I'll check when I get chance.

SoulKiss
07-03-08, 02:53 PM
I think that as a kid in the back of a car I only ever misbehaved once.

The hiding I got made sure I never did it again.

Shellywoozle
07-03-08, 04:43 PM
Whilst driving to work this morning (less than 2 mile journey) I was following a car, she went through 2 red lights and when I caught up with her at the next set of lights (which she had realeased was red) with hew she was on her happily chatting in her mobile phone.

Grrr I was in my uniform and flashed my warrant card, hence to say she put her phone down and s**t her pants. He he she was being a numpty!!!

Grinch
07-03-08, 04:48 PM
Great... Can we all have warrent cards?

the_lone_wolf
07-03-08, 04:50 PM
Can we all have warrent cards?
you can, but if anyone looks closely they might spot the typo;)

Shellywoozle
07-03-08, 04:51 PM
you can, but if anyone looks closely they might spot the typo;)

I had some for a hen party made, Hot Fuzz Sandford Police... maybe that'll do it :D

Blue_SV650S
07-03-08, 04:51 PM
Whilst driving to work this morning (less than 2 mile journey) I was following a car, she went through 2 red lights and when I caught up with her at the next set of lights (which she had realeased was red) with hew she was on her happily chatting in her mobile phone.

Grrr I was in my uniform and flashed my warrant card, hence to say she put her phone down and s**t her pants. He he she was being a numpty!!!

If she jumped 2 red lights, then why didn't you book her?? or if that isn't within your power (I don't know if you are a proper p** or just work for the force), get somone who can do it?!!? :scratch:

SoulKiss
07-03-08, 04:53 PM
Whilst driving to work this morning (less than 2 mile journey) I was following a car, she went through 2 red lights and when I caught up with her at the next set of lights (which she had realeased was red) with hew she was on her happily chatting in her mobile phone.

Grrr I was in my uniform and flashed my warrant card, hence to say she put her phone down and s**t her pants. He he she was being a numpty!!!

Why didnt you issue her with 9 points and loads of fines?

Shellywoozle
07-03-08, 04:56 PM
Why didnt you issue her with 9 points and loads of fines?

I was on the way to work in my own car, hence do not have equipment to issue her with 9 points and loadsa fines.

Only thing that I can do is write a statement and traffic file when I get into work and send her a NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) through the post to summons her to court. :-D

Anyway sorry off the thread a bit but just shows what talking on a moby can do to some folk that aint awake in a morning

Miss Alpinestarhero
07-03-08, 04:58 PM
I don't see how that will work.

The current law regarding mobile phone use in cars doesnt even work. I see people on yakking away on their mobiles whilst driving everyday. The same people have even carried on yakking whilst a police veichle is alongside them in traffic (and no the police did not do anything).

I have even seen a police officer yakking away on their own mobile while driving! :shock:

This law is practically impossible to enforce as someone else said, there simply isn't enough man/woman power to monitor it.

Maria

Blue_SV650S
07-03-08, 04:59 PM
I was on the way to work in my own car, hence do not have equipment to issue her with 9 points and loadsa fines.

Only thing that I can do is write a statement and traffic file when I get into work and send her a NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) through the post to summons her to court. :-D

And make sure you do!! :smt045

I mean 2 sets of lights 2 ... :smt103:smt103:smt103 ... take her licence away ffs before she kills a motorcyclist!! :thumbdown:

wyrdness
07-03-08, 04:59 PM
Only thing that I can do is write a statement and traffic file when I get into work and send her a NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) through the post to summons her to court. :-D

So did you? Enquiring minds want to know!

SoulKiss
07-03-08, 05:01 PM
I was on the way to work in my own car, hence do not have equipment to issue her with 9 points and loadsa fines.She infact would have had 3 points for each light and 6 points for her mobile ... shame I wasn't on duty innit, that's her license almost gone in 5 mins.

Only thing that I can do is write a statement and traffic file when I get into work and send her a NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) through the post to summons her to court. :-D

Red light cameras on those lights?

Correspond the time with her phone records?

Get those then hit her with the NIP ?

I had a similar ocurrance, had filtered to the front (was actually level with drivers door)

Woman to the left of me, window cracked an inch, her cigarette out it, sat nav on (bet she was just going home tho) she then gets on the phone - while sitting at the lights.

Lights change and she just drives off like that - one hand holding the phone, one the fag and off she goes.

Put a nice dent in her door where I had to kick it because "she was not in control of her vehicle and was coming closer to me officer" ;)

Shellywoozle
07-03-08, 05:01 PM
And make sure you do!! :smt045

I mean 2 sets of lights 2 ... :smt103:smt103:smt103 ... take her licence away ffs before she kills a motorcyclist!! :thumbdown:

Yes boss :takeabow: