Driving whilst using mobile phone

Originally Posted by Ed

I wonder how many on here have used a mobile when on the move...

I haven't since it was made illegal. Riding around London, I see too many people driving erratically whilst using phones. I've also seen several who have driven though red lights because they've been on the phone and not concentrating on their driving.

I was passing a school at home time and saw a woman in a chelsea tractor doing the school run, whilst happily chatting on the phone. She had her own kids in the back and drove through a red light at the crossing outside the school, with loads of kids milling around. As a parent, Ed, do you really want people like that on the road?

If people are given a fine and points for mobile phone use, even when stationary, it might make them think twice before using a phone whilst driving at speed.

Originally Posted by wyrdness

Riding around London, I see too many people driving erratically whilst using phones. I've also seen several who have driven though red lights because they've been on the phone and not concentrating on their driving.

This is the issue IMO, hands free doesn't make any difference, I can have a conversation on bluetooth (though the car stereo) travelling on the motorway at the speed of the traffic around me, only when I hang up do I actually realise what that speed is, and that perhaps it's not the same speed I was doing before the conversation. To a certain extent some people zone out of the driving and into the conversation, especially if the conversation requires your full attention to consider what you are hearing and make careful responses. I wouldn't have the same distraction issue if telling my wife what time I'll be home and asking what's for dinner.


You don't see people driving erratically or running red lights because on arm is on the armrest, or they are eating a mars bar. I don't have a problem with that so long as it's something easy to eat which isn't going to fall apart in your hands, and you have a passenger to open the packaging for you and hand you the food. A Maccy D's burger is a bit dodgy 'cos your concentrating on the burger not slipping out the middle, and not dropping sauce in your lap.

Originally Posted by Ed

I wonder how many on here have used a mobile when on the move...

I don't see why there is any reason too nowadays. Even if bluetooth is switched off by accident, as with most modern phones, mine has a speakerphone facility that is perfectly good enough to have a short "I'll call you back" or "I'll be there at 3" conversation without lifting the phone off it's holder.

The law is the law.

The works cars/vans and my car have parrot mic and display wired into the stereo. I dont use them for long calls as it stil distracts you from driving, although i am with in law to do so until the accident happens. I often have commuting to and from work on bike and in the car.

Grrr stop using the phone and stop at around abouts, i dont wish to get taken out.

The bit that gets me is you see business people in nice cars (£30000 +) that are to tight to get bluetooth option and think its better to use the phone.

Just my 2p's worth

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

I don't see why there is any reason too nowadays. Even if bluetooth is switched off by accident, as with most modern phones, mine has a speakerphone facility that is perfectly good enough to have a short "I'll call you back" or "I'll be there at 3" conversation without lifting the phone off it's holder.

You can always tell who's on the phone, or fiddling with the stereo, or sat nav ... their driving is just not 'right' ....

I haven't got a problem with people in traffic hitting the speakerphone, etc .... but you shouldn't be concerned about your phones at all when you are moving .... what next .... reading/sending a text ?? 'Well officer, I only hit a few buttons'

Leave the darn phone alone ... or stop .... simple as !!

Originally Posted by robh539

The law is the law.

The works cars/vans and my car have parrot mic and display wired into the stereo. I dont use them for long calls as it stil distracts you from driving, although i am with in law to do so until the accident happens. I often have commuting to and from work on bike and in the car.

Grrr stop using the phone and stop at around abouts, i dont wish to get taken out.

The bit that gets me is you see business people in nice cars (£30000 +) that are to tight to get bluetooth option and think its better to use the phone.

Just my 2p's worth

And you'll find that most companies will now allow business mobile phone users to claim for such equipment on expenses up to a predefined limit AND make it policy that they don't use the phone whilst driving

They don't wan't people breaking the law on the basis that their employer expects them to be available, but won't buy them a bluetooth. They do expect you to be available hence paying for the bluetooth, but that's a politically incorrect unwritten rule, hence the written rule says the opposite.

I am often asked to join a conference call on my way to or from a customer, because that's the only slot available in my diary that day.

I like how so many have said 'The law is the law'. So are all your bikes restricted to a maximum of 70mph?

The offence in this thread was low speed. Speed increases the magnitude of an incident...the probable magnitude of a low speed incident is therefore low...

How can anyone assume that an offender using a phone whilst crawling in traffic would also use it in normal, higher speed, driving conditions?

[Bri w]

I have a handsfree kit fitted. 30 odd yrs, no tickets, no accidents so i think i'm a half decent driver. I've once driven thro' a red light, and several times driven past the motorway junc I wanted whilst on the phone.

I now do the "I'll call you back."

We all think we're good but in reality we're only as good as our concentration at the time. If its within the law, and you're comfortable with it then fine. If not....

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

And you'll find that most companies will now allow business mobile phone users to claim for such equipment on expenses up to a predefined limit AND make it policy that they don't use the phone whilst driving

They don't wan't people breaking the law on the basis that their employer expects them to be available, but won't buy them a bluetooth. They do expect you to be available hence paying for the bluetooth, but that's a politically incorrect unwritten rule, hence the written rule says the opposite.

I am often asked to join a conference call on my way to or from a customer, because that's the only slot available in my diary that day.

When you get a company car ect, you can choose what options you have in it, most cars are leased anyway. My boss has had every thing added, 18" rims(crys about getting puncures from a staple mind you hahaha)

Tho even a clip-on bluetooth out of your own pocket is better than a ticket.
I can see were your coming from, work made me sign a document about not using while driving. Then had the parrot things fitted.

Originally Posted by robh539

When you get a company car ect, you can choose what options you have in it, most cars are leased anyway

My work does car allowance, not company cars, so when I get a new car I buy one that's six months or a year old. I'm allowed buy a portable bluetooth, or have a built-in system retro-fitted to the car and claim the first £80 plus VAT. I too had to sign a paper to say I wouldn't use the phone in the car, just so I can't sue the company if they ask me to join a conf call and I crash.

Originally Posted by LK-SV

You can always tell who's on the phone, or fiddling with the stereo, or sat nav ... their driving is just not 'right' ....

I haven't got a problem with people in traffic hitting the speakerphone, etc .... but you shouldn't be concerned about your phones at all when you are moving .... what next .... reading/sending a text ?? 'Well officer, I only hit a few buttons'

Leave the darn phone alone ... or stop .... simple as !!

I have a touch screen Windows mobile phone, so the speakerphone is literally on button already on the screen, no menu's to navigate.

The reason we have a law against phones and not specifically against sat-nav, stereo, etc, is that a phone conversation distracts the driver for much longer than setting the sat-nav or changing a radio station, it's the same level of risk, but for a few hundred yards and not a few miles.