Banning of Mobile Phone Use in Cars

[AndyJudge]

Today the News has been full of MP's calling for the total ban on Mobile phone use in cars irrespective if used hands free or not.

Whilst I agree wholeheartedly with the banning of using them handheld I feel total banning is a step too far.

Taking it a step further do we also ban the emergency services from using radios hands free ?

Thoughts ?

Yes I do use my phone in the car, no I've not got a holder for it when I get in it's either a) In the centre console, b) in the door pocket or c) In whatever jacket I was wearing when I got in the car. The phone links to the car using Bluetooth & I get all the function I need from that.

Yes I do stream music from either my phone or a tablet but again I set it up before I set off & just use the available controls in the car to change track etc.

No I don't live stream my journey, update or check my social media etc. whilst on the move.

[Triple-S]

The problem must lie with the manufacturers, or at least progress. I seem to recall first eating then drinking was banned whilst on the move - yet car makers built-in cup holders! I realise nibbling at a chockie bar isn't particularly dangerous but tossing ones head back to get the last dregs from your tin of fizz could well be. Nobody mentions that though.
Similarly re-programming ones satnav seriously diverts ones attention to what might be happening outside, but firms employing door-to-door delivery drivers for parcels or food set such mammoth daily schedules for their poor drivers they simply have to multi-task otherwise they'd be out of a job.
So with any sort of mobile phone - we managed before they were invented so why do we HAVE to use them whilst on the move now? As I heard on the news this morning, just pull over/divert off the motorway and ring your caller back - simple.
However, that doesn't answer your query: it all seems to boil down to us having to accept yet another case of the UK being a country of exceptions. You can't do whatever EXCEPT if..... The only winners are the legal boys who get paid whether the courts agree or otherwise when you are trying to argue your case out in court.
An interesting scenario: I'd be interested to hear what others might add to this.

P

[domhart10]

Personally I think its rediculous with an end goal to push everyone towards autonamous vehicles.

They might as well fine people for picking their nose while driving or just fine anyone for changing the temperature setting or any of the adjustments in the car, as all these things require the redirection of someones attention.

[DSK]

Fit cars with more gadgets to distract/entice the driver and then fine them - ££££ its a win/win situation for the government and manufacturers.

Personally I never use a phone hand held in the car. If I need something done hand held, I'll either stop or get the wife to do it. On my own, the phone as with others connects to the radio via bluetooth and I can make and receive calls and texts. Anything else can wait.

The number of people I see in the morning at traffic lights reaching for the phone the second they stop and actually using the like of facebook, playing a game etc is unreal. I see this whilst I am stood waiting for my bacon butty.

Also the number of drivers I see driving like bell ends, last minute deliberate cut up, not indicating, using traffic as a slalom course etc whilst watching a TV show or doing a video call with the phone directly infront of them on the windscreen is just taking the ****.

[Dippydog]

There are many things to distract a driver two of which I can't really comment on are mobile phone use[I turn mine off when I get in the car and turn it back on when I stop for a "comfort break"-long journey-or when I get where I'm going-local journey.the second is these stupid screen things they fit like an afterthought usually high up on the dash for drivers to play with-my cars aren't new enough to have one fitted nor would I want one.One thing I think to be downright dangerous[and it seems to be getting more common round here]is having a dog on the drivers lap usually with its front paws on top of the drivers door door card looking out of the door window

[Dippydog]

Meant to add that it's all well and good making new laws/expanding the scope of current ones-it makes for good headlines as they're seen to be caring/doing something.However the chances of getting caught are quite slim[in the grand scheme of things] due to the lack of police patrols.Or are we advocating increasing security/surveillance cameras such as the facial recognition ones in use at Kings Cross?

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by domhart10

Personally I think its rediculous with an end goal to push everyone towards autonamous vehicles.

They might as well fine people for picking their nose while driving or just fine anyone for changing the temperature setting or any of the adjustments in the car, as all these things require the redirection of someones attention.

I think that's to fail to appreciate the very different nature of the distractions they pose.

[Ian21401]

The present law re handheld phones is being blatantly disregarded by many drivers so banning the use of hands free is hardly likely to be treated any differently. I do not understand why cars are being built with touch screens. How are they so different from holding a phone/device in one’s hand and it is necessary to take one’s eyes and attention away from the road to lookat/touch said screen. IMO the problem is not simply that you have a device in one hand whilst driving, it is that your attention/concentration is elsewhere than on the road you are driving on. Decades ago when driving a police traffic car I frequently had the radio handset in my left hand whilst trying to confer with control room. Trials with voice activated hands free microphones were in their infancy and not very successful at that time. Mobile phones just did not exist at that time, although the Pye Pocketfone personal radio was carried by most officers. The transmitter unit of that was hand held and sometimes required to be used whilst driving.

[AndyJudge]

I bet those who are suggesting the changes to the law all have drivers rather than living in the real world.

I think they've actually got the wrong end of the stick here. The using of a handheld device (even in a holder) is the issue as there's just too much temptation to take selfies, post on FB etc..

Maybe making the car a faraday cage & then having some form of phone dock in the glovebox or lidded centre console is the way forward.

Phone will only work in the car using the external aerial & then links to the cars for telephone connectivity & other approved apps (SatNav, music streaming etc.) That way all the other distractions are blocked from functioning & the device is out of sight.

Ah but what about passengers & their phones Mmm have to think on that.

[Ukwide]

Originally Posted by domhart10

Personally I think its rediculous with an end goal to push everyone towards autonamous vehicles.

They might as well fine people for picking their nose while driving or just fine anyone for changing the temperature setting or any of the adjustments in the car, as all these things require the redirection of someones attention.

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Most new cars now have an iPad glued to the dashboard with loads of apps, one for the heating, one for the aircon, one for the heated seat, radio, cd, etc, etc, etc. Why, currently I reach down slightly and turn a knob and the heat goes up or down simples. I push a button and seat heats up, on some cars with iPad apps that single operation takes three or more taps on the screen, all the while distracted from driving with care and attention...