Driving whilst using mobile phones

[EM]

... is not in the dictionary I used,...

You use a dictionary? Surely not?

[Spinner72]

I am not going to post the other "experts" because there is no need. Anyone with a minimal amount of savvy would understand that driving with any distraction is a formula for danger.

 

It seems crazy that a thread could go so long before reaching this very obvious point.

 

Anyone who needs legislation to tell them operating a mobile phone, smoking, or any other similar activity while driving is dangerous really shouldn't have a licence in the first place. It is simple common sense at its most basic.

[Guest Anonymous]

^^ Far be it from me to 'agree' with a Mod', But he's right on this one.

However, I think I've pointed out in the past that if 'sense' were 'common'.. We'd all have some.

All of the distractions you mentioned are pointed out in the driving test as hazards but the DSA seem to be more interested in piling as many people onto the roads as possible to prop up the car industry. If safe driving and accident prevention were really the reasons behind sitting a test then one or more of the following would be legislation. A; The training and subsequent 'testing' would be much stricter. B; There would be a maximum allowance for issuing licenses per annum. C; There would be a 5yr refresher test.

 

Any other occupation that involves using machinery adopts at least one of the above and few involve having two similarly sized machines hurtling towards each other at upto 120mhp collision speeds!

[shetlandpeat]

We do all have common sense, whether we choose to use it or go with the unilateral train of though as displayed with some of these posts here within and elsewhere.

 

... is not in the dictionary I used,...

You use a dictionary? Surely not?

 

Thanks for that, however I chose to use more than one.

 

Though the one I enjoy reading the most is my two red ones.

 

"An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland"

 

I am not gifted with the Shetland dialect but still am able to enjoy it and am interested enough to obtain some text, boldface or not.

To describe the actions of some drivers needs no dictionary to be understood the world over.

 

Though I do have others.

 

They date from the 30s - 60s, similar to some of the styles of teaching seen on these forums by some, well the insults and personal humiliation used by some to get their point or gep across.

 

Still, a distraction, but not as dangerous as driving while operating any electrical comms. device.

[JohanofNess]

How about driving with an impedement or disability?. Going on the train of the safety brigade if a mobile phone is literally death in the palm of your hand what about if you don't have two hands to hold the wheel with or you can't use the pedals?. Surely you folks who advocate an absolute ban on being to talk on the phone during driving hands free or not must surely be apoplectic when you think that someone who lost a hand is holding on to the wheel with a hook, prosthetic hand or fixed attachment to the wheel.

[Farmer Brown]

How about driving with an impedement or disability?. Going on the train of the safety brigade if a mobile phone is literally death in the palm of your hand what about if you don't have two hands to hold the wheel with or you can't use the pedals?. Surely you folks who advocate an absolute ban on being to talk on the phone during driving hands free or not must surely be apoplectic when you think that someone who lost a hand is holding on to the wheel with a hook, prosthetic hand or fixed attachment to the wheel.

 

Gidday Johan. You wouldn't be suggesting(somewhat indirectly) that there is such a thing as concentration , would you?

[JohanofNess]

^Reactions moreso than concentration but they go hand in hand if you pardon the pun.

 

It's all well and good for some folk to sit atop mount moral and pontificate that nobody can safely operate a vehicle while talking but going on that stance then surely they cannot advocate those who cannot operate a vehicle as efficiently or reactively as others being allowed to drive. I have no problem with those who are differently abled being able to drive as I realise that it is somewhat insulting to assume because you can't talk and drive that someone else isn't more than capable of doing it. Formula one drivers travelling at 200mph talk on pit radio while operating the set up on their steering wheels and do this while trying to maintain track position ie racing. Going on the reasoning of some here formula one will soon have a speed limit, no pit radio and a stop to make sure your tyre pressures are right.

[Spinner72]

There is a huge difference between driving with a disability, whatever it may be, when the driver has had no choice but to live with and overcome their disability to be able to do so, and doing something completely unnessesary whilst driving.

 

The simple fact is there is never a time when it is safer to operate a mobile phone when driving than it is not to. Common sense.

 

The formula one analogy is a good one. Driving at 200mph is obviously stupid in most places, so - if driving and texting is "your thing" - do what the racing drivers etc do and use a private track, then you can socially network away while burning rubber without increasing the risk of something happening to anyone but yourself

[shetlandpeat]

The simple answer to that is the F1 drivers are very highly trained. As the Joe off to the shop in their Ford Focus has not had quite the same.

They are also trained to travel at these high speeds and have to adhere to the rules, for a start, they are all going the same way.

There are also no innocent victims really, folk who take part are aware of the risks, hence the pay and lifestyles. There is a vast difference and it is not really comparable.

Again, the drivers are trained to travel at such speeds, the radio requires nothing but the voice to operate, and they are not getting raged about Flo down the road who has let her kids beat up yours.

 

The other point, is all the others on the track are also highly trained and the protective equipment is fantastic, these guys walk away from 200mph of so crashes, I cannot see Mrs Gutteridge surviving hitting a ditch at 60 mph and walking away in her 15 year old escort on the last knockings of its last MOT test.

 

Perhaps everyone should be trained to the level of F1 drivers, not really, I don't think that will work. Though folks should take a series of follow on tests and perhaps even one every 10 years or so. It will help the economy, employ folks and that would pay the pensions and benefits of those who live longer because they did not die because of a business vall asking about 2 inch screws and a mistyped quote.

[shetlandpeat]

How about driving with an impedement or disability?. Going on the train of the safety brigade if a mobile phone is literally death in the palm of your hand what about if you don't have two hands to hold the wheel with or you can't use the pedals?. Surely you folks who advocate an absolute ban on being to talk on the phone during driving hands free or not must surely be apoplectic when you think that someone who lost a hand is holding on to the wheel with a hook, prosthetic hand or fixed attachment to the wheel.

 

I take it you may not have looked into this...

 

http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/rollx-chrysler-dodge-caravan-SXT-1.htm

 

From a simple Google search, try it, there are loads of folks who do.

[JohanofNess]

I take it you may not have looked into this...

 

I didn't need to. Perfectly aware of the kind of cars available to the differently able.

 

 

From a simple Google search, try it, there are loads of folks who do.

 

Simple google search, take it you weren't perfectly aware of the kind of vehicles available for the differently able?.

 

I get the feeling you missed the point sp I wasn't advocating that people who have different methods of controlling a vehicle shouldn't be allowed to, merely pointing out that the government allows people to drive cars who have varying degrees of ability to control vehicles, you say that talking on a phone is highly unsafe, I think an 80yo driving is unsafe but the law states its allowable as long as they are capable. That's the point, capability, I don't believe someone else should tell me I can't talk on a handsfree because they don't feel capable of doing it.

[JohanofNess]

The formula one analogy is a good one. Driving at 200mph is obviously stupid in most places, so - if driving and texting is "your thing" - do what the racing drivers etc do and use a private track, then you can socially network away while burning rubber without increasing the risk of something happening to anyone but yourself

 

Are you suggesting that I like to text while driving at stupid speeds spinner?.

[shetlandpeat]

I understand that you think that folk who drive adapted cars may be unsafe.

 

These folk have extra training. They have been able to adapt the way they drive using different parts of the body, talking takes up the bit that controls the driver.

 

The search was to satisfy myself that I was right, which I was. But folk have been adapting vehicles for the disabled for years. I came across the youtube media and thought it highlighted it.

 

As for the elderly, I agree that when an age limit is reached, it would be fair for someone to ascertain that he/she is still ok to drive, the EU are mumbling about this as we post. Their limit is 60 years and an annual for those over 70 I think.

 

I am already subject to an additional test due to my age as a HGV driver.

 

Learning to operate a vehicle that has been adapted is as easy as learning to drive a vehicle many can drive, I think your analogy is askew somewhat. From that statement, those in the UK should not drive a LHD vehicle in Europe when they are on holiday, or even drive. On that wee thought, it would be prudent to gain some experience first.

 

So, it boiled down to some sort of training, and discipline to adhere to that training.

 

On training, a military pilot can fly and talk at the speed of sound and far beyond, then they have had millions of pounds worth of training.

 

I don't think Spinner was singling you out with "your thing".

[JustMe]

For a chunk of my driving life I was paid to respond to pagers, mobile phones and radios of various sorts. Never once did I feel that I was putting myself or others in danger by doing so although I will admit that once in a while I decided that driving mattered more than answering whatever device I was meant to respond to.

 

But that was me. An experienced driver with more training than the average boy racer. But the law is the law and I would not drive now while using a hand held communication device because I also value my clean licence. And as someone who values their clean licence I am astonished by the number of people I see driving while talking on mobile phones. In fact I am astonished that so many people feel they can get away with it and I think it is time the authorities had a serious crackdown on it.

 

Let me clarify that. I do not think prosecuting people who use their mobile phone in a queue of stationary traffic should be prosecuted. Nor even those stuck in a slow moving rush hour crawl. Let us see people travelling at a relatively fast speed being targeted even though they may be harder to catch. Makes sense to me.

[turningright]

you certainly put a lot of faith in training.

 

i fear we live in the golden age of training where everyone can be trained to be whatever their heart desires, unfortunately, realistically this isnt the case humans come in all shades af capabilities, im sure for some its totally beyond their abilities to do more than one action at a time and for others it wouldnt task them in the slightest.

 

in the world we live i suppose the rules must be made for the many for the deficiencies of the few,