Bastards on cell phones.

[Ocean1]

Can't be arsed finding a reference but an Aus study indicated that talking on a cellphone was no more dangerous than talking to a pasenger. It also showed that hands-free kits were statistically no safer, they legislated to ban hand-held use and not hands-free anyway...

[MSTRS:Me]

A good driver is one that respects driving as an activity that requires the highest priority .....
99% of all my cornering in a car is done with one hand. I learnt this because, initially, the second was required to change gear...

Can't quite reconcile the two statements.
And if you have to change gear in a corner, then I suggest you go back to driving school, because you obviously don't know how to drive.

[swbarnett]

Can't quite reconcile the two statements.

If you've got a good grip on the wheel with your hand in the right place you don't need two hands to corner. I'm not cornering so fast that I have to fight with the wheel. And, yes I have hit potholes and had to take evasive action - all one handed.

And if you have to change gear in a corner, then I suggest you go back to driving school, because you obviously don't know how to drive.

Note that I said initially. It's not something I'm in the habit of any more. Although it does happen occasionally when the curvature of a corner increases unexpectedly and the revs become too low once I've scrubbed off a little bit of speed.

BTW: Being able to drive one handed came in really handy when I had my wrist in a cast with a suspected scaphoid fracture.

[idb]

im always on the phone while driving company trucks...
especailly on hiways

I'm driving right now!

[swbarnett]

I can't believe what I am reading here.... as a motorcyclist you think its acceptable to drive a manual car whilst talking on the phone.

Talking, yes. But only as long as their driving is not affected. I have honked at drivers talking on the cell phone because this was not the case.

You think using a phone has no (99% you said) impact on peoples attention to the task of driving. You think driving whilst using a phone is a skill which should be learned and not prohibited.

Don't remember saying 99% (and can't search for it as it's only 3 letters). For a good driver it has no more impact than talking to a passenger. The skill is not driving whilst using a phone, it's driving in the first place.

If some idiot knocked you off your bike whilst on the phone would you think the same ? If your best mate was killed by some dozy bastard using the phone would you think the same ?

Without further evidence I would not automatically assume that the driver was distracted by the cell phone. And if they were it would irk me no more than if they were distracted my anything else (maybe we should ban carrying kids in the back seat?).

If you had a serious accident whilst driving your car and using a phone do you think your arguement would stand up in court ?

I don't know either way. Depends on the judge. The point would be whether or not I was paying due care and attention.

I think you are an idiot.

You're entitled to your opinion. I think you need to lighten up and stop sweating the small stuff but that's just my opinion based on a very narrow view through an internet forum. I could be completely wrong.

FWIW I think society as a whole needs to lighten up. Things are not as bad as we like to make out.

[idb]

I can't believe what I am reading here.... as a motorcyclist you think its acceptable to drive a manual car whilst talking on the phone. You think using a phone has no (99% you said) impact on peoples attention to the task of driving. You think driving whilst using a phone is a skill which should be learned and not prohibited.

If some idiot knocked you off your bike whilst on the phone would you think the same ? If your best mate was killed by some dozy bastard using the phone would you think the same ? If you had a serious accident whilst driving your car and using a phone do you think your arguement would stand up in court ?

I think you are an idiot.

Why...that sure is a mighty high horse you're on there stranger!!!

[Jiminy]

Talking, yes. But only as long as their driving is not affected. I have honked at drivers talking on the cell phone because this was not the case.

Hum, that one I find scary. There might be other drivers around looking at your driving and thinking just the same: "I know how to do it better than him".

For a good driver it has no more impact than talking to a passenger. The skill is not driving whilst using a phone, it's driving in the first place.

You're talking about hand free sets, I assume. Even then, I wouldn't totally agree. When talking to a passenger, you are in the same physical environment. When talking on the phone, you will be more distracted as the sound is not as good, the background noises are different and you might even build a mental picture of the other environment.

Anyway, I'm happy enough for hand free sets, so this is just arguing for the sake of arguing

FWIW I think society as a whole needs to lighten up. Things are not as bad as we like to make out.

Yes, there is also a bit of that . I just wish the NZ driving standards were better.

[swbarnett]

Hum, that one I find scary. There might be other drivers around looking at your driving and thinking just the same: "I know how to do it better than him".

The drivers I'm referring to encroached on my lane and they happened to be on the phone with no-one else in the car. The phone may not have been the main factor however, they probably would not have paid me any mind even if they weren't on the phone (this has happened just as often, which, in the scheme of things is not all that often).

You're talking about hand free sets, I assume.

Doesn't really matter.

Even then, I wouldn't totally agree. When talking to a passenger, you are in the same physical environment. When talking on the phone, you will be more distracted as the sound is not as good, the background noises are different and you might even build a mental picture of the other environment.

This comes back to what I'm saying about keeping driving as your number one priority. I've never had any image in my head other than where I am at the time while talking on the phone. (Even when sitting at home talking on the phone I don't form a mental picture of anything but where I am.)

[MSTRS:Me]

...You think using a phone has no (99% you said) impact on peoples attention ....

He didn't say that...it was in reference to (his) cornering

Talking, yes. But only as long as their driving is not affected. I have honked at drivers talking on the cell phone because this was not the case.

Precisely why the law is left to apply Careless Use if the driving warrants it.

Don't remember saying 99% (and can't search for it as it's only 3 letters).

Can't search? It's only four pages of posts. And what about 'all posts by...' in the dropdown??

[swbarnett]

Can't search? It's only four pages of posts. And what about 'all posts by...' in the dropdown??

Too true...

"I think our minds must be too highly trained, MagicThise"

[NUTBAR]

The police can charge the driver with careless use causing death or injury and I suspect, and hope, that we will begin to see these charges being laid in the future.

In my experience it is texting that is the most dangerous as 9 times out of 10 if the car is weaving around they will be texting, if the car is going slow and inconsistent in speed they will be talking.

ive seen police driving & talking on cell phones, careless use of motor vehicle?

[fredie]

police are exempt from the laws hereeven if its a social call

[Ripperjon]

Over in the UK you can, and will, get done for "driving with undue care and attention" for using a phone that isn't "hands-free" whilst driving.

In fact people are often done these days for eating while driving. I remember reading a story in the paper over there when the whole no-eating thing started happening about a guy that was whacked a big fine (cant remember exactly how big) for eating a Kit-Kat (chocolate bar) while driving.

Seems harsh when you consider that smokers are fine to potter along with a smoke in one hand flicking their carcino-crap out the window every so often.

Anything that distracts a driver is potentially dangerous.

And for anyone to say that texting is only dangerous if you're a bad driver is hilarious. I should take a book with me next time behind the wheel to read between messages eh? That would be sweet right?

Michael Schumacher (Lap 72);

Ring ring. "oh its ze phone"
"good job i'm a shit hot driver otherwise zis would be distracting"
"Hello?"

[swbarnett]

In fact people are often done these days for eating while driving.

Can anyone say cotton wool? Some people just don't want to live in the real world.

[fredie]

how about a life sentence http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/ne...=rss_4car_news