Phone drivers

[Big Dave]

Making it illegal will make no difference.

I.

Made a big differnce in Aus. I noticed it. And nobody does it - heavily enforced.

[Crisis management]

I'm in, anything to stop the high level of distraction that cellphone use causes sounds like a good idea to me.

Who do I email???

[Skyryder]

If someone will tell me when the next BRONZ meeting is (like I keep asking!) I will table a motion.

i wonder if vodaphone and telecom etc have a policy? If you are looking for something to surf - lets see if we can get some quotes from the telecos on the issue. They'll want to sell some accessories - lets use 'em.

What about a petition. Mr Ixion - know how that works?

ideas ideas ideas???

I agree with all that you have said with the exception of phone accessories and by this I take that you mean some kind of hands free device. There have been a number of studies that 'indicate' that attention distraction is no different with hand fee devices as against the cell phone held by the hand.

I'm not normaly against petitions and they can show the level of support for a 'position.' But on this issue..........??????????????............who knows.....nothing ventured nothing gained.

As an ex bus driver this 'crash' was not caused by a cell phone. That's just an excuse. The driver did not put the safety of his passengers as his number one priority. He had the wrong attitude. I'm very interested in who made the call. If it was the company and they were aware of his schedule then some of the blame must be accorded to them. Perhaps you have some friends in the media who may be interested to know. If that could be established through phone records.....................then my advice would be to target one of the tour busses with a protest ride. That wold get some media attention and bring to the attention of the tourist industry just how bad this comapany is. Bad PR is the only way this company is going to change.

Skyryder

[Dave Lobster]

Made a big differnce in Aus. I noticed it. And nobody does it - heavily enforced.

How? More policemen on the streets? Its already been discussed here that once dunkin donuts is closed, the policemen all go home.

[Timber020]

if it was made illegal at lest a good percentage of people would stop doing it, it would probably save a few lives every year. Put a bunch of demerits on it, that would hurt em. Same kind of observation (if not less) that the seatbelt law requires. That saved alot of lives to.

[Big Dave]

How? More policemen on the streets? Its already been discussed here that once dunkin donuts is closed, the policemen all go home.

:-)

They started yanking drivers and smacking them with fines. Of couse you still see some - but very few compared to hyar.

[Swoop]

Put a bunch of demerits on it, that would hurt em.

I believe you have hit the nail on the head!!!
Good point.


BD, I support the initiative. Cellphones are a distraction.

I also support forward firing rocket-pods on bikes. Machineguns optional.

[Robbo]

I believe you have hit the nail on the head!!!
Good point.


BD, I support the initiative. Cellphones are a distraction.

I also support forward firing rocket-pods on bikes. Machineguns optional.

Yep! Sounds like a good scheme. If we start firing at them then they will quickly realise just how using a cellphone when driving can be hazardous to their health and safety.

[kro]

Cellphones are so very important.... not. I have not had a personal cellphone for years, and seem to still be alive.

[Dave Lobster]

:-)

They started yanking drivers and smacking them with fines. Of couse you still see some - but very few compared to hyar.

Don't get me wrong. I'm anti using the phone while driving. I just worry about how the law could be enforced.

And, are 'phones any more dangerous than two or three screaming children in the back seat?

If you ban one thing because it'll save a handful of lives, it sets a dangerous precedent. It wouldn't be long before some overzealous copper fines people for drinking tins of pop while waiting at traffic lights. Don't laugh.. its happened in the UK.

If a policeman sees someone driving dangerously while on the 'phone, doesn't he have the power to fine them for dangerous driving? If they don't do it now, why would they bother if using the 'phone is illegal?
Ie, aren't existing laws adequate?

[Oakie]

My daughters were behind a cell phone using driver on Friday and watched her drive straight into the back of a parked car at about 55kph.

[Big Dave]

Don't get me wrong.

Debate welcome.
I may have even been wrunk.....wrink....wrunge....not as right as usual once.

The three screamin kids don't need one hand to operate, paticularly in your quad turbo gizzamuziki with manual gear change and pull to the left front wheel drive. 'Oh! a hand on the steering wheel - I'll get to that after I change gears.'

[candor]

Long been fence sitting on this one. Some good comments, am not sold by the studies I've seen that its significant. Agree it was attitude (or maybe inebriation screwing up the drivers sense of balance, why he fell off seat), way more than any ringing phone. The ones that do worry me are teen phone addicts with bigger mouths and more fingers than brains. They can be disturbing - but they are that regardless on road - right? Jist punish teens I reckon as its proven they are multitask challenged.

[pzkpfw]

Part of the issue is that laws are there for the lowest common denominator, and there is a difference between 1) prevention and 2) punishment after the fact.

e.g. of 1): Speeding; there's a 100 kph top limit, though we all know there are places it's hardly less safe to be at 110, 120 or whatever. But the limit is there to try to prevent the worst happening, too often.

e.g. of 2) Murder; you can't really police peoples' thoughts, so you kind of have to wait until they've "done it" before you can arrest them for murder.


I'm not 100% certain that all use of a cellphone in a car is all that bad.

When I've left work I will call my wife, while I'm at a red light, to tell her I'm on my way. I use a speed dial to get her, and if the light goes green I say "bye" and drop the phone in my lap.

Should I get a fine for that?


So phone use in a car is one of those things I'd rather see punished when things go wrong, than punished for any use (in case something goes wrong).

* Someone weaving all over while texting - fine the crap out of them.

* Someone crashes while on the phone - put them in jail. (Same as if they were messing with their stereo or lighter).

I know it's too late after they've already killed someone you like, but then, the open road speed limit isn't 80 kph anymore, either, and it's not illegal to change your CD's.

Cheers,

[Hitcher]

Ahh. The BGFT's fucked. Or, if you live in Turangi, the BGVL.