Why not to lock your phone (safety)

[iYRe]

This was from a bicycle blog, but I think he has a point:

CYCLING SAFETY: DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO.
Don’t lock your phone.
Period.
If you carry your phone as a safety device on rides, there’s no need to passcode lock it.
But there are many, many reasons not to. Here’s a big one.
When I had my latest bad crash, my phone was locked.
For the first couple hours I was in and out of consciousness. Mostly not.
In one of my rare moments of consciousness, face-down in some rocks, a stranger was holding my phone in front of my face begging me to remember the code (and my name). I got lucky and entered the right one (on the third try) and dialed my wife’s number. Then, went nighty-night again.
I get it wrong and my wife may not have known what happened.
I. Got. Lucky.
So forget the passcode.
Because heaven forbid, you may forget the passcode.
- Brian

Some people disagree.. and rightly so.. but then.. perhaps its worth unlocking it while we are out on our bikes? I mean.. what's the purpose of an ICE number if no one can get in your phone?

[pritch]

If I'm travelling the phone is off, otherwise the battery goes flat while the phone constantly searches for a signal. My phone is just a dumb phone, and while there is no PIN any thief could only access the balance of the pre-paid $20.00 or so.

[duckonin]

Why do you need to lock your phone ? Is it your pocket it sits in or anothers ?

[iYRe]

mine locks, so that it doesnt accidentally ring people, but its not passworded.

People who have "secret" information (or sensitive, etc) on phones/laptops/tablets are just waiting to have their lives destroyed.

I can't tell you how many people have come to me and said "what can I do.. I lost my ipad and it had all my secret private secure sensitive documents on it.. I know I shouldnt have but I never thought I would lose it.." *sigh*

Never. If you must take stuff with you.. keep it in the cloud and never "save" your password/username (always manually enter it - its a pain, but its better).

[Erelyes]

I mean.. what's the purpose of an ICE number if no one can get in your phone?

Generally emergency numbers (111) will still work regardless of whether the phone's locked or not, but I guess it depends on the manufacturer.

They do make a good point though. 'locking' the phone yes; passcoding, no. That way after the good samaritan finds you and calls the ambulance, they can call your NOK too.

On this subject, I read about keeping a 'just in case' piece of paper in your top pocket in a ziplock bag - and in it putting your medical history, allergies, blood type, etc. - to help emergency services out when they find ya.

[Smifffy]

When my phone is locked you can still dial 111 and 4 ICE contacts that I have programmed in.

[Gremlin]

I used to lock mine with a PIN. From a security point of view, there is a lot of information in it that shouldn't be public.

However, I did stop that on a trip earlier this year, as constantly stopping to take a picture and having to unlock everytime became a PITA. Now it's just a swipe unlock... really should be better tho... and I know better. You're also assuming that people know how to use the smartphone.

In my Android mobile at least, I can program a welcome screen message, so I've put my name and an ICE contact.

[chasio]

When my phone is locked you can still dial 111 and 4 ICE contacts that I have programmed in.

Nice. What phone is that and does it need an app?

---

As mentioned, people can always make emergency calls off a locked phone so it is just the ability to look up your ICE contact that is impeded by having a lock.

I put a pattern lock on my phone and figured I would just make a a label up to put the ICE number on the back of it. Sorted. Except I haven't done it yet...

[iYRe]

I used to lock mine with a PIN. From a security point of view, there is a lot of information in it that shouldn't be public.

However, I did stop that on a trip earlier this year, as constantly stopping to take a picture and having to unlock everytime became a PITA. Now it's just a swipe unlock... really should be better tho... and I know better. You're also assuming that people know how to use the smartphone.

In my Android mobile at least, I can program a welcome screen message, so I've put my name and an ICE contact.

Most people know how to use a smartphone.. even my 70 yr old dad does..

Welcome message is a good idea though.
I thought of putting a little plastic bag just inside my fairing with a note in it, but then in a big crash it might get lost in the wreckage.

[BoristheBiter]

I'm yet to see someone not carry their own phone.
If I am in that bad a condition I want the ambo first, after that the police have my details.

how many ride by themselves that this would be a problem?

[Smifffy]

Nice. What phone is that and does it need an app?

It's standard - no app needed. It's an S4 so yeah.

[iYRe]

I'm yet to see someone not carry their own phone.
If I am in that bad a condition I want the ambo first, after that the police have my details.

how many ride by themselves that this would be a problem?

I ride by myself all the time.. on a motorbike and a bicycle. when you're married with kids and so are all your mates, scheduling time to ride together is hard, so you ride when you can.. sometimes alone, sometimes not.

[caspernz]

Label on top of helmet with pertinent info, ditto for dogtag around my neck. Good enough for the army days, so why not continue that in civvy street? Phone is always PIN locked, works for me...

[SMOKEU]

People who have "secret" information (or sensitive, etc) on phones/laptops/tablets are just waiting to have their lives destroyed.

I can't tell you how many people have come to me and said "what can I do.. I lost my ipad and it had all my secret private secure sensitive documents on it.. I know I shouldnt have but I never thought I would lose it.." *sigh*

Never. If you must take stuff with you.. keep it in the cloud and never "save" your password/username (always manually enter it - its a pain, but its better).

Serves those dumbasses right for carrying important shit around without being encrypted.

[Mushu]

I ride on my own more often than not, especially when trail riding. I use the basic Android pattern code thing, but as has been said if I'm so fucked up I can't use my own phone forget ICE, just call an ambulance, I always carry my license so the cops can identify me and get hold of next of kin if it's necessary.