Driving whilst using mobile phone

[Biker Biggles]

Id like to see a common sense revival but Im well aware Ill be six feet under before it happens.
BTW Im with Spidi on this one.

Originally Posted by TazDaz

I won't get in a tit for tat argument and try not to post again, but I'd personally like to be able to use my phone whilst crawling at say 5mph. I know they've done the complete ban for a reason, and that is to eliminate any grey areas, but there isn't much that can go wrong at 5mph if you keep to the centre of your lane, keep a check that no one wants to enter your lane and don't rearend the car in front!

I'm not an expert in law, but is it not the case that people who pull over to use their phone and leave the engine running are still breaking the law?

The problem is not everyone can multitask like you, others are too simple and won't concentrate on anything as soon as the phone rings

[Messie]

He didn't see a brightly covered huuuuge police car until it was right next to him. Says it all really. Wouldn't have noticed the kid run out either

Perhaps it would be more of a deterrent if the punishment was to take their phone off them, tell the person on the other end how much of a prat they've been, stamp on it and then issue them with a ticket for littering if they don't pick it up.

This post brought to you by the department of massive overreaction.

Book em, i certainly would

If its in their hand whilst they are in their vechile no matter what speed its the law (which im sure you know ) its my pet hate, there was a woman i was filtering past the other day (traffic moving about 5mph), too busy texting almost sqaushing me agaisnt a lorry hadnt even checked her mirrors, even when i was along side her she hadnt noticed me staring in at her.

Ah i cant wait to be a copper

[maviczap]

Once a phone user at the wheel, always a phone user at the wheel, book'em all.

Harsher penalties too.

I'm with Spidey too

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by orose

Perhaps it would be more of a deterrent if the punishment was to take their phone off them, tell the person on the other end how much of a prat they've been, stamp on it and then issue them with a ticket for littering if they don't pick it up.

This post brought to you by the department of massive overreaction.

Me's liking this option

Originally Posted by Lozzo

This comes from somone who got booked for mobile phone useage while driving in Southall by a very nice blonde copper woman

But I have never been in Southall????


Anyway, someone asked the question about being pulled over and the engine running. Driving is defined as being in control of the speed and direction of a motor vehicle. Technically, that would still be classed as driving, however, I would never book anyone for that unless there were unusual circumstances.

In answer to Pete the Plumber's question, I agree, book'em Dano! If he couldn' see your big X5 with the flourescent stickers on it and manage to drop his 'phone then he deserves his ticket.

A friend of mine occasionally takes calls on his mobile phone in very similar circumstances. I'm sure he'd be really upset if a police officer booked him.

I've told him to be careful. His view is that so little happens at such low speed that being prosecuted is unreasonable.

I think I agree with him

Book him.

In town with cyclists, peds and bikes filtering past and he didn't see you in a battenburg'ed X5? What chance have the other road users got? You can still change lane or have a shunt at 10mph.

Red traffic lights, book him too, he can't guarantee that he will have finished the conversation before they change, and you can be damn sure he isn't going to hang up mid sentence if they do.

Completely stationary traffic, where it's clear he can't move anywhere for the forseeable, leave him alone.