The difficulty is enforcement.

[Ixion]

It'd totally abolish *555. No bad thing.

[Headbanger]

"If the cap fits you may wear it"
I was talking about crims and those pulled over for driving offences, NOT 'everybody' out there in the world - or was I too obtuse for you?

But it's true - all criminals and a lot of motorists do lie - it's just like they've never left school and are trying to come up with a crappy excuse/a lie for what they've been apprehended for.

Normally preceded by "I was just....."
(The kiss of death for a lot of them)

Thats right, Your talking about everyone you talk to during the course of your work.

I personally don't make excuses, But I get damned mad when legit crap gets dismissed. As for post #26, Thats a genuine experience, Not a lie, But you have already stated your biased position.

[swbarnett]

The difficulty is enforcement.

Actually, enforcement is dead easy. Cause a crash, get done.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Sorry but talking on the phone is worse than a blood alcohol level of .08.

There is an ever increasing body of work to suggest that passengers shouldn't talk to the driver, there shouldn't be music or radio in a car and GPS needs to be ditched as well. Communication uses areas of the brain that are required for attentive driving.

In my post I did say hands free... and while I agree standard holding your phone to your ear while driving I should be band, but hands free is the same as talking to your passenger... but txting worse again.

Well in that case get rid of the speedo, and warning lights... get rid of rear veiw mirror as the all take youe eyes off the road... as for communication to driver... put the driver in a sealed compartment seperated from the passengers simple... just hope he don't nod of due to total boardem

My GPS is right where the speedo is and shows speed whats the difference, (thats what I use if for while riding) It doesn't allow search functions while in motion, I can only switch between screens... once I stop then it allows the normal function

[James Deuce]

In my post I did say hands free... and while I agree standard holding your phone to your ear while driving I should be band, but hands free is the same as talking to your passenger... but txting worse again

Well in that case get rid of the speedo, and warning lights... get rid of rrear veiw mirror as the all take youe eyes off the road... as for communication to driver... put the driver in a sealed compartment seperated from the passengers simple... just hope he don't nod of due to total boardem

My GPS is right where the speedo is and shows speed whats the difference (thats what I use if for while riding)

Doesn't matter if it's hands free or not, the act of talking is apparently equivalent to being technically too drunk to drive.

[Usarka]

Does it make a difference if your a man or woman? Men find it hard to talk while watching the telly, yet women seem to have no problem nagging on about shit while cooking dinner.

[Edit:] Mind you they can't drive properly either so it probably evens out.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Doesn't matter if it's hands free or not, the act of talking is apparently equivalent to being technically too drunk to drive.

talking to your off sider while driving... hmmm biggest load of crock I have heard of in a long time

So all cops, technically drive round drunk... using one hand for RT and one to drive... (unless they are 2up.. then the off sider should be the RT guy) but many are only 1up

[Big Dave]

As I was pootling up the hill to Parnell yesterday morning a 20-something woman pulled a u-turn straight in front of me - oblivious to all but the riotous laughter sourced from her phone.
There was no passenger next to her to say 'watch the road.'

I saw it coming and avoided the situation.

I saw it from 100mtrs away.

Mr Plod can back up the visual check with the phone account log if challenged.

I also bet i could go and stand outside my house and clearly photograph 5 people talking on phones as they drive by in the next 5 minutes. Date stamped and all.

[Steam]

talking to your off sider while driving... hmmm biggest load of crock I have heard of in a long time

No, Jim2 is right, researchers have done big studies on it, the evidence is clear and incontrovertible. Handsfree or handed, both degrade your driving ability to the level comparable with alcohol intoxication.
When you are talking to someone actually in the car with you, it is for some reason totally different, the driving is fine. The scientists still don't know why.

[RantyDave]

Mr Plod can back up the visual check with the phone account log if challenged.

While it may not be a (short term) preventative measure, you'd think this was a standard part of policing - There's a crash, they take the driver's cell number and check with the phone company to see if they were on the blower at the time. Would be a piece of piss.

Is it actually illegal to be on the blower while driving? Does it fall under "without due care and attention"?

Dave

[Usarka]

While it may not be a (short term) preventative measure, you'd think this was a standard part of policing - There's a crash, they take the driver's cell number and check with the phone company to see if they were on the blower at the time. Would be a piece of piss.

You'd need a witness who noted the exact time of the crash, and compare their time source to the telco's.

otherwise you just say you made the call immediately after the crash.

[Nagash]

Not trying to rude or anything but you (Ixion) have an amazing example of Type A personality.

Never seen anyone as anal as that when it comes to driving, you should be commended!

I'm assuming you haven't been in many accidents then?

[swbarnett]

No, Jim2 is right, researchers have done big studies on it, the evidence is clear and incontrovertible. Handsfree or handed, both degrade your driving ability to the level comparable with alcohol intoxication.
When you are talking to someone actually in the car with you, it is for some reason totally different, the driving is fine. The scientists still don't know why.

To me the reason is fairly self-evident if you think about prioroty phones are given in our society. Ever been standing in line in a shop only to have the phone ring? The person on the other end has effectively jumped the queue.

I think there is a reluctance to offend people you don't dislike. The driver is likely to think that a person in the car know's what's going on around you and won't be offended if they are distracted from the conversation to deal with a potentially dangerous situation, whereas the correspondent on the other end of the phone can't see what you see.

This is why I don't have a problem with mobile phone use in a car (talking, not texting) as long as the driving is given top prioroty. Personally, I don't care if the other person thinks I'm ignoring them and takes offence, that can be corrected later.

[spudchucka]

But I suppose years of being a police officer make you so cynical and paranoid you think everyone hates you.

Now there's a generalisation you can be proud of.

[spudchucka]

Wouldn't it be careless driving?

Yes. The debate is whether or not a specific offence is created for texting behind the wheel and whether it should be an infringement offence so that it can be dealt with by way of an instant fine, rather than the court appearance required for a careless charge.