I *tried* to be nice...

**mstriumph** · 26th February 2008, 14:19

if i ever get the urge to be nice i try to distract myself until the urge passes ....

**puddytat** · 26th February 2008, 14:57

They're going to ban Radar detectors yet they're farting about banning cellphone use in a vehicle....I bet cellphones have caused more injury than a radar detector, Im slowing down all the time cause its always going off @ something...

**Mikkel** · 26th February 2008, 15:58

Go, and let go

Seriously, dreaming about educating the fuckwits on the road is never going to go any further than that - dreaming!

Behaving like an asshole is only going to impress other assholes. Being considerate and respectful sometimes sway those who haven't figured it out yet.

I'm not saying just turn the other cheek, but let the bullshit get to you and you've already lost half of the game.

But yes, cell phones and cars are a bad combination - texting is the worst though.

**Forest** · 26th February 2008, 17:40

In Victoria it is illegal to use a cellphone in a car without a hand-free kit.

Don't know about the rest of Australia, but assume it is similar in other states.

**Livvy** · 26th February 2008, 19:59

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Multi-tasking dude. They're good at it, perfectly capable of calling the boss to explain they'll be late because the nail polish cap was welded on agaaiiin, tuning the rajo onto the morning channel, ('cause we don't like that smarmy bitch on the evening channel in the morning), aaannd nonchalantly cutting up the Viffer with a perfectly executed feint-right-dummy-left-indicate-swerve-right-pause-dive-back-left-again. You’re just jealous.

...

Originally Posted by 007XX

I officially resign as a member of the feminine specie if that's how I'm supposed to be to fit in.

+1

Screw that! Not all girls are idiots remember... Haha... Personally, Viffer, I'm on your side - I mean, it's an easy enough mistake to make to not realise it had turned green. I totally understand. You had more important things to deal with, like enjoy the morning sun, take a deep breath of fresh, NZ air... Not talk on your cellphone...

Makes sense to me! Good on ya mate.

**Mike748** · 26th February 2008, 20:01

Must have been something about the weather!

On my way to work this morning I noted the guy in front as something special, he was in a hurry with nowhere to go ...... He confirmed this shortly when the lane split into 2 queues as it backed up for the roundabout (the Donbuck / Swanson Rd intersection for the Westies).

At 2 cars wide the centre median is partly occupied and today an oncoming car had stopped on said median to turn right not allowing Mr special enough room to continue. So ...... as I prepare to stop Mr Special swerves right and goes around said vehicle within 20m of the intersection which has a fast left hander sending vehicles toward you.

It would have been messy if a vehicle or bike had shot around that bend.

**crash harry** · 26th February 2008, 21:40

Originally Posted by Swoop

I believe that in the UK, even though this legislation is in place, the culture is still continuing. (Bikern1mpho - can you shed any light on this?)
Trying to make that happen here would be just as bad. Our lawmakers and enforcers are unable to stop the red-light runners, who pose an even greater safety threat, so this would also be ignored.

I was in the UK when the rule came into force - the very next day there was a marked increase in the number of people pulling over to answer their phones - which of course was freaking me out because I initially thought there was a marked increase in unmarked cop cars lurking on the side of the road...

Having said that, there's still a lot of people that don't, and I think in the citys it's worse than in the country where I was - less places to pull over for a start...

**swbarnett** · 27th February 2008, 10:23

Originally Posted by BiK3RChiK

Why don't they ban the bloody things for drivers?

In the words of the LTSA a year or two back (roughly) "There's no point in banning cell phones while putting on make-up and eating while driving are not illegal".

I'd be in favour of banning texting and anything else that takes your eyes of the road but can't see the problem with answering a verbal call. I do it all the time in the cage. It's perfectly fine as long as driving is still your number one priority.

**Badjelly** · 27th February 2008, 10:29

Originally Posted by swbarnett

I'd be in favour of banning texting and anything else that takes your eyes of the road but can't see the problem with answering a verbal call. I do it all the time in the cage. It's perfectly fine as long as driving is still your number one priority.

I have observed many instances where people are talking on their cell phones and driving is clearly not their number one priority. This is the problem.

**BiK3RChiK** · 27th February 2008, 11:10

And as for putting on make-up, eating, drinking (non-alcoholic of course!) and texting! Well, WTF??? Get up earlier or something!!!

**swbarnett** · 27th February 2008, 12:46

Originally Posted by Badjelly

I have observed many instances where people are talking on their cell phones and driving is clearly not their number one priority. This is the problem.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by BiK3RChiK

And as for putting on make-up, eating, drinking (non-alcoholic of course!) and texting! Well, WTF??? Get up earlier or something!!!

Again, Agreed.

However, why add another law that bans something even when it's not a problem at all i.e. someone talking on the phone who does have the road as priority number one. Why not just use the existing law that refers to "not paying due care and attention" when it is apparent that the driver's attention is not on the road. This will cover everything, not just cell phone use.

**vifferman** · 27th February 2008, 13:52

Originally Posted by swbarnett

However, why add another law that bans something even when it's not a problem ... Why not just use the existing law that refers to "not paying due care and attention" .

Agreed. Agreed.

We don't need any more laws.
In fact, some of the existing ones are pointless, like the "Boy Racer Laws", which apart from giving cops the right to impounding vehicles were more or less duplicates of existing laws.