Spotted another one last night

[WRT]

A prize twat that is.

Heading home in down the southern carpark, when I spot this chick driving a Domani (well, there's the first indication) in the middle lane. Even at those low speeds, there seemed to be a bit of trouble keeping the car within the lane, and she seemed somewhat oblivious to the traffic around her (not watching her following distance, and then sudden stabs of brake when someone took advantage of this).

All became clear when I got a little closer . . . she was talking on the phone. BUT - not only that, she was taking her "spare" hand (as in, the one thats NOT holding the cellphone to her ear) off the steering wheel at every possible chance to wave it round in the air in order to help her get the point across to who ever it was she was talking too . . .

I mean come on, I know Vodafone just released their 3G network and are now pushing the use of video calling, but seriously - even if this lady was using a phone capable of that (given the state of her car I seriously doubt she could afford one), does she really think the caller will be able to see her hand movements when she has the phone pressed against the side of her head???

At least she didnt actually crash, so I'm only going to give her 4 out of 5 stars on my Prize-Twat-O-Meter . . . still, a worth effort none the less.

[The Stranger:Me]

I think I can nominate a bigger one.

The other morning travelling to work westward on norwestern I am in the left lane and go to overtake a bus that is in the middle lane.
He starts to wander over into the left lane squishing me close to the barrier on the bridge. As I draw up to abuse him he is oblivious. He was watching and keying on this cell in his left hand.

I registered a complaint with Stagecoach, but hey don't really expect to hear anything back and they haven't let me down so far.

[skelstar]

Yeah its ridiculous how people think they could be in control whilst talking on the phone. Not wishing to hijack the thread but I wonder what a sensible thing would be to do in this case? Drive up next to them, toot horn and do the phone to the ear symbol/gesture then finger twirling around your ear gesture? (yo loco chica!)

[Sniper]

Had that one day. Mum (whos a nurse) attended an accident where witnesses state the driver was "over enthusistic" when chatting away happily on her cellphone.

Ive also had to pull my other half out of a ditch while following her one day I saw her start weaving in her lane. I couldnt figure out why when next I knew she went strait into the closest ditch at 70kms an hour. Now, this was not only due to talking on a cell, but trying to put her bracelet on while talking on the cell and driving??? and she wonders why I wont let her drive any of works cars or teach her to ride!!

[vifferman]

All became clear when I got a little closer . . . she was talking on the phone. BUT - not only that, she was taking her "spare" hand (as in, the one thats NOT holding the cellphone to her ear) off the steering wheel at every possible chance to wave it round in the air in order to help her get the point across to who ever it was she was talking too . . .

I mean come on, I know Vodafone just released their 3G network and are now pushing the use of video calling, but seriously - even if this lady was using a phone capable of that (given the state of her car I seriously doubt she could afford one), does she really think the caller will be able to see her hand movements when she has the phone pressed against the side of her head???

She might be like some people (my wife f'rinstance) who can't talk without waving their hands around. Urpeen bloodlines, and all that. My wife does this when we're talking in bed before going to sleep, and if I grab her hand(s) to stop her jiggling the bed, she goes, "...emmm....errr...." and can't think what she was going to say next.

How often do you see this though - some twat not indicating, or driving very erratically, and when you get closer to them, they're talking on their cellphone? Even if they're not gesticulating with their spare hand, the cellphone still inhibits their ability to drive properly. There was a study (groan... another one) recently that said people's brains generally just cannot handle talking on their cellphone at the same time as handling all the visual and physical inputs and decisions that driving requires, so if you're paying attention to the cellphone, your brain cuts out processing driving-related decision making, and vice-versa. And of course, we know which is the most important thing to concentrate on.

[placidfemme]

I know talking on the phone whilst driving is illegal (right?) but is there a way to report it? Because how can you prove it?

I'e had 2 near misses due to some twat on their cell phone not paying attention... and BOTH times the driver gave me the look as if to say "what are you doing, you idiot" where is was actually them at fault... assholes...

[DemonWolf]

hmmm, I know I use to be guilty of using a cellphone while driving. Though now, I'll either give it to whomever is in the car with me to answer, or leave it till the end of my journey, though I do pull over when I get the chance.. the joy of being on call.

[zadok]

Dam dangerous activity. Illegal here too, but I see it often enuf. re: reporting it. If the Police thought it warranted following up, I guess they could check the phone records for that time. I'm sure they do in cases of actual accidents if they suspect the driver was on a phone. Hands free kit the only alteranative for those that feel it is a must to be on the phone all the time.

[Sniper]

Think of it this way....

You are in charge of a 1000kg+ machine doing up to (and over in some cases) 100kph. You require skill and all your concentration to handle this equipment safely without causing yourself or some other poor individual harm by having an accident. Studies show (Blasted studies) that it requires 1 half of your brain to use a cell phone, the same side of the brain that processes and analises risks and dangers.

So in theory, by using a cell phone, you have cut down your driving skill by half and your concentration by roughly 45-75% (Why so much you say?). Well if you are using a cell, a percentage of your brain is needed to use the cell, process what the caller is saying, analise it and reply back to their statement, or question. What happens when you move your arms around to emphisise a point is you are using more brain power.

Would you let someone use an automatic weapon or explosives or knives while chatting on a cellphone. Why would we let people race towards us at speed with a vehicle.

Hope this is educational to some

[Devil]

I still think the best one I've seen was a guy in a late model Holden ute driving south on the northern motorway...with his head back, putting eye drops in. i.e. Both hands off the wheel, holding eye open with one hand, and dropping with the other.

[Flyingpony]

Yeah its ridiculous how people think they could be in control whilst talking on the phone. Not wishing to hijack the thread but I wonder what a sensible thing would be to do in this case? Drive up next to them, toot horn and do the phone to the ear symbol/gesture then finger twirling around your ear gesture? (yo loco chica!)

I do that and it can be quite funny but you have to pick your moments.

If safe and they're going slow, roll up close beside the driver door with left indicator on and then continuously pressing the horn button is very effective. They've obviously not spotted your change in road position so wonder where the heck you came from and where the heck you're going.

If they're engaged in text messaging, toot each time they take their eyes off the road. After a while they figure it's you so do the gesture

If they're applying makeup, very effective method to stop them is to supply some more light
Motu's 430 watts would come in very handy!

[parsley]

BUT - not only that, she was taking her "spare" hand (as in, the one thats NOT holding the cellphone to her ear) off the steering wheel at every possible chance to wave it round in the air in order to help her get the point across to who ever it was she was talking too . . .

Did you ever consider she might have been trying to dry her nail polish? Eh? No, you just leapt to the most obvious conclusion.

[vifferman]

I still think the best one I've seen was a guy in a late model Holden ute driving south on the northern motorway...with his head back, putting eye drops in. i.e. Both hands off the wheel, holding eye open with one hand, and dropping with the other.

Even scarier than that was the guy (truck driver) on that documentary about drugs the other week. His employers suspected him of drug use, so they hired a PI to watch his house. Nothing. So they stuck a camera in his truck, and Bingo! Film of him driving down the motorway, and turning around (away from the wheel so other motorists couldn't see him, but towards the camera) to smoke P while he was driving! Scarey stuff!

[Lou Girardin]

I know talking on the phone whilst driving is illegal (right?) but is there a way to report it? Because how can you prove it?

...

Believe it or not, it isn't.

[PZR]

As far as I know it is not illegle to use a cell phone while driving. Which is a damn shame really considering how many stupid mistakes are made by people talking and texting while driving. At the end of the day though you can still be prosucuted for careless use (or something similar) if you cause an accident and it was your fault because you were on the phone and distracted. We all have a duty of care to drive safely at all times. I do wish the government would legislate on this matter cause as we know its down right dangerous out there