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What would be next? banning people talking to passengers?
I always use a hands free kit and certainly don't keep turning my head to look at it whilst talking! unlike a lot of drivers who turn their head to look at the person next to them or in the back whilst talking to them! surely that is worse as they are taking their eyes off of the road??
One thing I have noticed and it annoys me greatly is seeing flash people driving around in £30k+ vehicles yet they can't splash out on a cheap headset or have a kit installed!
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Posted: 2008-01-08 09:13:32
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The best thing that could ever be done to ensure that we are a bit safe is to increase the charges or let this be a non bailable offense.
I think that could make a difference even though the problem would still not be solved
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Posted: 2008-01-08 11:58:32
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On 2008-01-08 09:13:32, Nanu wrote:
What would be next? banning people talking to passengers?
AFAIK - the original research showed that the dynamic with a driver talking to people inside the vehicle is different than when talking to people outside the vehicle by mobile phone whether hand held or hands free... YOu can't rant on about whether you personally are just as safe a driver when talking on the phone as not because scientific tests carried out to actually test the average persons reaction times prove that they are significantly affected - that is why the law is in place.
As with drink-driving... at 79mg of alcohol in 100 mm of blood is within the law at 81 you are above the limit and the consequences are:
A court conviction.
A driving ban of at least 12 months.
An endorsement of your driving licence for 11 years.
A criminal record.
If you get caught drink driving then the above is the minimum that will happen to you. You may also be liable to a fine of up to £5,000 and up to 6 months in prison.
Is it fair that the guy with 81 mg suffers all that when the guy with 79mg gets away scot free
Why are the penalties for using a mobile phone going up?
It is hard to do two things at once and research has shown that if you are using a mobile phone whilst driving, you are four times more likely to have a crash.
In fact, if you use any type of mobile be it hands free or hands held, your reaction times are worse than if you were driving under the influence of alcohol. Tests have shown that reaction times for drivers using a hand-held phone slows reactions by 50% when compared to normal driving and by 30% when compared to being drunk (Direct Line Mobile Phone Report 2002).
The use of a mobile phone often involves distractions which could be visual, auditory, mental or physical (Direct Line Mobile Phone Report 2002).
Even if you're a careful driver, it's easy to be distracted by a phone call or text message - and that split second lapse in concentration could result in a crash.
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Posted: 2008-01-08 17:11:20
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Ah Max
but here in the UK we are living in a stealth tax state where any infringement they can fine you for is viewed as revenue generation for the governments finances. Oh course the Welfare and health and safety of it's citizens should be the real driving factor but unfortunately that's just not the world we live in any longer IMO.
Marc
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Honoured to have won BEST DEBATER
[ This Message was edited by: Dogmann on 2008-01-08 16:33 ]
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Posted: 2008-01-08 17:33:22
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@arvinlad, afaik the testing shows that some people not all, have their reflexes affected. On average, people are affected while speaking on a mobile phone, but not all people are "average". No matter what you say, I believe myself quite capable of assessing my own reaction speed when talking on a mobile phone, simply through the fact that I talk often via handsfree. I have no increased incidence of close encounters as a result. I am equally able to avoid obstacles in day to day traffic as I am when not talking on the phone, including stupid drivers, kid's on bikes, old ladies, animals and you name it.
I reiterate that it's stupid drivers not mobile phone use that needs to be policed.
@dogmann, good point and it's quite the same over here in Aussie. Revenue raising seems to be the prime motivation for traffic enforcement, such as wasting speed cameras in areas not known for having accidents but where people are known to speed, and then missing out on the opportunity to place that camera at a true blackspot where accidents happen frequently due to the stupid few, even though the majority of people in those areas slow down when passing through.
Again the stupid drivers get away with it and the careful drivers are harassed.
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Posted: 2008-01-09 04:04:11
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@Max - aha Max - I hadn't spotted you were in good old OZ... that explains it mate
- in fact I think that is where the research was initiated - but that's a by-theby...
I lived in OZ for a year - in Brisbane...
One of the places I worked, I ran out of things to do - so I called the boss and said 'your trucks are a bit bit grubby... how's about I give them a clean for you?' - He said 'mines the ute in the middle, if you could clean out the inside as well that'd be good' - When I got to his car - the passenger footwell was FULL of empty beer bottles
- Aussie approach to road safety... - don't bother
The other one was that the Govt had decided to make wearing cycle helmets law for adults... the number of head injuries in adult cyclists decreased by 75%!!!
- unfortunately so did the number of miles cycled by adults...
oh:
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Posted: 2008-01-16 01:51:55
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actually, I have to disagree arvinlad
Being a Brisbane boy myself). Not that I condone drink driving AT ALL, but that's just one person you are talking about. We queenslanders are mostly safe drivers. AS I said, it's the FEW who spoil it for the rest. Though I do agree there is a bit of "small town" mentality amongst Brisbane drivers (indicators seem an optional accessory)
As far as cycling goes, I don't know about the official stats, but there are many more cyclists on the road now than ever where before the helmet laws. I should know since I'm a keen cyclist myself.
As far as I can see brisbaners are mad keen cyclists.
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Posted: 2008-01-16 12:18:44
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