HGV Drivers on Mobile Phones.

[Oilydad]

Don't know how many of you picked up on the story this week of Hampshire Constabulary who had a purge on HGV drivers on their patch. One that will be repeated, and hopefully will take place in other areas of the UK too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-15166546

I just wonder why it's taken them so long to twig to this?

Anyone who uses coaches for travel, as I do regularly to commute to London and back because it's the cheapest way to go, (£23 return) can see this happening on every road in the UK.

Let's hope it gets repeated by every police force. I've been an HGV driver myself, so certainly not against lorry drivers, but using a mobile whilst at the wheel of 40 tons of articulated truck is a very very stupid and irresponsible thing to do.

I understand that several of the drivers who were caught have since lost their jobs as result, after their own firms sacked them for doing it.

[andy_d]

dont understand Why
most phones come with a basic wired earphone + mic for hands free use, Free in the box, you can get a "bluetooth" remote head/earset for under a £10, spend a Little more £30ish and you can get a bluetooth sunvisor mount handsfree mic/speaker....

so sub £50 ,,(less than the fine) and you keep your job,,dont get a fine/points,, ???
i guess folks are really that dumb.



PS
can they also do the Same thing on Pvt hire "cabs" ,, merc drivers and bmw/audi drivers round here please....Twice a week on the pvt hire things,...And check they have a licence that Really is theirs,,,and Valid in the UK.

[deathrider311271]

all i can say as a hgv driver is its their own fault, as Andy says sub £50 your sorted.

The company i work for have the Parrott system installed in all their trucks, yet i have seen several of our drivers doing exactly this.

[emmdee]

"Parrot system"? Sounds intriguing. How does that work, then? The driver tells the parrot, and the parrot passes on the message using a mobile?

Talking birds in lorry cabs could be considered a "mynah" distraction, I suppose...
:)
m.d.

[deathrider311271]

"Parrot system"? Sounds intriguing. How does that work, then? The driver tells the parrot, and the parrot passes on the message using a mobile?

Talking birds in lorry cabs could be considered a "mynah" distraction, I suppose...
:)
m.d.

now that conversation could get very interesting lol

And if any of u are wondering why im on at this time of day im on my tacho break and now have mobile broadband bloody great these new fangle gadgets lol

[DaveNP]

As an HGV driver I must admit my first reaction was 'Oh great, picking on HGVs again' but having read the BBC article this was just a one day hire of a truck to give the police a better view, Avon and West Mids have their own units I believe for this purpose.

As for using a phone while driving, THERE IS NO EXCUSE, and I wish the police would stop more people for this offence both trucks and cars, how many times do we see a vehicle being driven badly only to see the driver engrossed in a phone call. We've probably all done it in the past, but honestly we need to get to the point where Phone-driving is seen as being as antisocial as Drink-driving.

Sorry for the rant, but, the seeming anti truck tone (which it wasn't really) got me started and phones pushed me over the edge.

[arcturus]

So the company sacked the driver? He was probably answering a call from that same company!
I'm sure that it is not beyond the wit of high tech companys to come out with a device that prevents mobile phones from recieving a signal whilst the engine is running if the will was there. Also why do so many people hold their phones in their left hand whilst pressing it to their opposite ear?

[RUTV70]

Also why do so many people hold their phones in their left hand whilst pressing it to their opposite ear?

Perhaps they've got a crossed line.???:lightbulb:

Neil

[weble]

Im a HGV driver, i dont have any type of hands free! For a good reason, my depo also know this so dont bother rining me, they know i wont answer, even if im not driving! lol

We have ISOTRAK in the cabs, if it's important, message me! Family know in an emergancy just ring me, then when it rings off, ring again, keep doing that til i've stopped. They generally just text me now knowing they get a message back when i've stopped if i can be bothered :D

No excuses! Maybe some of these drivers need to experience a blow out on either front tyres while driving like this to realise!

[volvorocks]

Same goes for drivers of expensive cars. Surely they can afford a £50 handsfree kit if the car is not bluetooth?

[Moosejaw]

The driver of a vehicle shouldn't be allowed to operate a mobile phone whether it's hands-free or not.

Just the act of talking on a phone is a very unique form of distraction which makes it one of the most dangerous things a driver can do, far more so than drink driving or speeding IMO, yet the penalties for it are tiny in comparison to other road traffic offences.

[stevo48]

This article, if true, really takes the biscuit(and the proverbial p#ss)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045091/Motorist-driving-using-laptop-writing-answers-radio-quiz--drinking-coffee.html

[andy_d]

This article, if true, really takes the biscuit(and the proverbial p#ss)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2045091/Motorist-driving-using-laptop-writing-answers-radio-quiz--drinking-coffee.html

it very well could be,, esp if a bmw driver.....

[Toplights]

During my stint as a recovery driver,i had an agreement with my guvenor,to ring my phone four times and then hang up,same with family and friends.I then stopped as soon as i could, in a place where i could safely answer.It aint rocket science is it?,just lazyness imo,be safe.

[volvorocks]

The driver of a vehicle shouldn't be allowed to operate a mobile phone whether it's hands-free or not.

Just the act of talking on a phone is a very unique form of distraction which makes it one of the most dangerous things a driver can do, far more so than drink driving or speeding IMO, yet the penalties for it are tiny in comparison to other road traffic offences.

Tend to agree with you Moosejaw

I noticed some years back that after a phone conversation the last few miles of driving were not in my memory.

I make it a rule now to not have handsfree conversations if I can as concentration lapses as you say.

I do from time to time use handsfree and the car is bluetooth although always ensure the call is quick eg "Im driving, Im on the M25 back in an hour Yes I will get some bread.Bye"..!!

Regards

[LankyTim]

Apparently you can get points for ringing someone who you know will be driving, along with the person who actually takes the call.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. Its perfectly safe to use a mobile phone while driving a 44 ton lorry. As an ex lorry driver I got quite good at using my phone while making a pot noodle, having a shave and watching a pornographic DVD on my laptop, which would be open on my dashboard. Never had a serious accident ever!...



....that last paragraph may not have been true ;).

[volvorocks]

Apparently you can get points for ringing someone who you know will be driving, along with the person who actually takes the call.

Hi LankyTim

This is not possible as you cannot put points on a 13 year olds licence!!

I think what you are saying is say for example your employer rings you knowing you are driving eg say you were a courier - then the employer may well be liable in the event of an accident or a prosecution caused directly or indirectly by such call

Regards

[Dibble]

As an HGV driver I must admit my first reaction was 'Oh great, picking on HGVs again' but having read the BBC article this was just a one day hire of a truck to give the police a better view, Avon and West Mids have their own units I believe for this purpose.

As for using a phone while driving, THERE IS NO EXCUSE, and I wish the police would stop more people for this offence both trucks and cars, how many times do we see a vehicle being driven badly only to see the driver engrossed in a phone call. We've probably all done it in the past, but honestly we need to get to the point where Phone-driving is seen as being as antisocial as Drink-driving.

Sorry for the rant, but, the seeming anti truck tone (which it wasn't really) got me started and phones pushed me over the edge.

Agree with you David but I raised this point with the transport manager of a well known Scottish company and made him aware that up here if such drivers come to the notice of the Traffic Commissioner then she/he will remove their vocational licence for at least 6 months. The transport manager told me that the company have hands fee phones fitted in all their trucks (300 plus) and the phones the drivers are using are their own! £20 for a hands free kit! Why take the risk.

[gjd]

"Parrot system"? Sounds intriguing. How does that work, then? The driver tells the parrot, and the parrot passes on the message using a mobile?

Talking birds in lorry cabs could be considered a "mynah" distraction, I suppose...
:)
m.d.

Are they allowed to tweet?

[volvorocks]

I was on a coach in 2009 and the driver started using a mobile.

I simply walked forward stood next to him, said nothing, and started filming him with my digicam, then returned to my seat. I am pretty blatant sometimes in my actions.

He soon ended his call.

Had a long conversation with him when stopped at the services which was very very good indeed.

I believed he would not use his mobile whilst driving again.

Hope I was correct.