Listen up y'all civilians: Do as we say not as we do...

**RDJ** · 31st May 2011, 14:23

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10729118

Since I am still off the road after being hit by a car 'driven' (but not controlled) by a texting driver while stopped at a red light a month ago, I can relate to this driver's reaction... and him then being pulled over to be told off certainly will influence people. Win friends? not so much.

**slofox** · 31st May 2011, 15:18

I wonder how becoming a copper somehow transmogrifies your brain so that talking on the mobile phone while driving is no longer an unsafe activity..?

**superman** · 31st May 2011, 15:47

And the police complain the public don't seem to respect them. GET RID OF YOUR TAX-PAID BAD APPLES!

**RDJ** · 31st May 2011, 15:49

Some years ago I was involved in a workplace study where we looked at the potential for lack of sleep causing impairment of skills in doctors performing 'fine motor' procedures; not motor in the motorcycling sense, but motor in the sense of movement. This applied in the context of precision surgery; not at the microscopic level, but at the level of unaided-eye surgery, for example suturing wounds in the emergency department. Impairment could be considerable after one night without sleep, even with other factors corrected for.

At that time ('06) we were comparing our results with those from a University of Utah study, performed by two doctors called Strayer and Drews; those of you interested in the concept of impaired concentration while using cell phones would recognise these names. I attach what from my point of view would be the "money quotes" from that study:

"We found that people are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit” of 0.08 percent, which is the minimum level that defines illegal drunken driving in most U.S. states, says study co-author Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology.

Psychology Professor David Strayer, the study's lead author, adds: “Just like you put yourself and other people at risk when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others at risk when you use a cell phone and drive. The level of impairment is very similar. Clearly the safest course of action is to not use a cell phone while driving.”

The study reinforced earlier research by Strayer and Drews showing that hands-free cell phones are just as distracting as handheld cell phones because the conversation itself – not just manipulation of a handheld phone – distracts drivers from road conditions...

**Devil** · 31st May 2011, 15:53

*shrug*. They're allowed to do it, and being ignorant of the law (regarding the exemption) isn't a reason for moaning at them about it.

If you dont like it, do something about the legislation.

**Scuba_Steve** · 31st May 2011, 16:01

Originally Posted by Devil

*shrug*. They're allowed to do it, and being ignorant of the law (regarding the exemption) isn't a reason for moaning at them about it.

If you dont like it, do something about the legislation.

altho if she was able to get pissy & stalk him down to have a go, I'd say she wasn't using it "in the execution of the officer's duty"

**tigertim20** · 31st May 2011, 16:13

Originally Posted by slofox

I wonder how becoming a copper somehow transmogrifies your brain so that talking on the mobile phone while driving is no longer an unsafe activity..?

mmm hmmm

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

altho if she was able to get pissy & stalk him down to have a go, I'd say she wasn't using it "in the execution of the officer's duty"

yeah tis a bit questionable. And frankly, if it were an emergency, wouldnt they just use the radios? why the fuck do they actually NEED the exemption? doesnt sit well with me.

**DrunkenMistake** · 31st May 2011, 16:22

I dont know, The guy was trying to cause something by the sounds of it, You see someone talking on their phone you dont turn back just to look at them and point out to your passenger that they are talking on the phone.
The Police speed with flashy lights.. If I flash my lights really fast does this mean I can speed?

Who
The
Fuck
Cares..

People make huge ass deals over the smallest shit, a Police car the other day didnt indicate .. OH MY GOD! I SHOULD RING A NEWS PAPER AND TELL THEM LIKE JESUS THIS IS HEADLINE SHIT!
I seen a cop go through a red light without flashing his disco lights, OH MY GOD! I SHOULD RING A NEWS PAPER AND TELL THEM LIKE JESUS THIS IS HEADLINE SHIT!.

If people concentrated on their own boring shitty little lives instead of someone elses then this stuff wouldnt keep coming up, this is just another one of those threads that is taking a dig at the New Zealand police, Yes it shouldnt have happend, but why the huge fuss? do you trawl these news sites trying to find this shit?

**Usarka** · 31st May 2011, 16:33

Originally Posted by Devil

*shrug*. They're allowed to do it, and being ignorant of the law (regarding the exemption) isn't a reason for moaning at them about it.

If you dont like it, do something about the legislation.

The lawmakers blatantly ignored the clear scientific evidence that handsfree were just as dangerous as handheld but passed the law anyway so there's fuck all chance they'll listen to joe public.

It looks like the only way you can get them to change legislation in this area hypothetically is if you're a large telecommunications company that looks to profit from it, eg from selling huge numbers of handsfree kits.

**Hopeful Bastard** · 31st May 2011, 16:35

Originally Posted by tigertim20

And frankly, if it were an emergency, wouldnt they just use the radios? why the fuck do they actually NEED the exemption? doesnt sit well with me.

Depending on what kind of Emergency.

I have heard that the Force uses their phones for a discreet method of contact as the radio's are just too public for some things.

**tigertim20** · 31st May 2011, 16:40

Originally Posted by Hopeful Bastard

Depending on what kind of Emergency.

I have heard that the Force uses their phones for a discreet method of contact as the radio's are just too public for some things.

maybe, but if it were that discreet and or serious, there probably wouldnt be any need to do it while driving.

That said, we will see if they lose the right after they have the encrypted radio thingy everywhere that thy are slowly bringing in.

**scumdog** · 31st May 2011, 16:45

Originally Posted by superman

And the police complain the public don't seem to respect them. GET RID OF YOUR TAX-PAID BAD APPLES!

There's a shit-load of stuff we DON'T have to do but everybody else has to so enjoy and grizzle...

Bad apple are one thing but talking on a cell phone while driving is not an indication of one.

Sheesh, to silence the whingers we would have to do EVERYTHING that the public is meant to ( but doesn't a fair bit of the time) like always obey speed limits. (regardless of any require urgency.

_

Ah, where would we be without the whingers??

(Bring back WINJA, he was a proper one)

**Smifffy** · 31st May 2011, 16:53

I really don't give a rat's that she was talking on the phone, she possibly had to make an appointment to get her nails done.

I do think that chasing them down to stop them & tell them not to be pulling faces at her was a couple of steps over the line.

She could have just thought "ah a busybody with no clue about the law hahahaha" and gone on her way. But then again how would that give her an opportunity to wield the power of the force?

**unstuck** · 31st May 2011, 16:56

HA HA,the stuff that people find to be pissed of at. Im more worried about all the cowshit on the roads at the moment from stock trucks, or the dickheads that are dumping offal and other shit in our waterways. So she was on the phone,big deal, nothing to see here,move along.