Bastards on cell phones.

[swbarnett]

I know there are far more people who drive automatic cars here than say in the UK where trying to drive and talk is a real hazard....

Driving a manual car with one hand (either hand) is a skill to be mastered like any other driving skill. I knew someone that lost an arm and continued to drive manuals (both left and right handed). My car is a manual and I often drive only using one hand, no big deal, you just have to be a bit more pro-active about changing into the right gear before a corner.

[roogazza]

I sometimes text while driving (one of those who can do it without looking at the number buttons), but then try to be extra vigilant so that it is not at the expense of my road skills. Haven't mastered the art of it with bike gloves on though....

I came across a car on its roof on the Piecock some months back. I said to the young lady, you ok ? make a little mistake did we ? ..... Her answer Nah , I was texting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How she got it upside down neatly without going over the side baffles me, it was a long way down........ G.

[Jorja]

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.

Have heard of people being charged with reckless driving but police have to prove it was the talking on cell that caused them to be distracted in the first place.

Agree txting is so much worse. Because you have to look down at your phone instead of the road. Talking on the phone atleast you can still watch where you are going.

They have been talking about making hands free kits a legal reguirement in cars for years but it has never been enforced or become law.

[Mort]

Talking on a cell phone while driving will make a bad driver worse. A good driver will be unaffected by it because they know the phone is secondary. Driving remains the number one priority.

The problem is not cell phones (at least not talking, texting is another matter), the problem is that we have so many bad drivers in the first place.

What total crap.

[Mort]

Driving a manual car with one hand (either hand) is a skill to be mastered like any other driving skill. I knew someone that lost an arm and continued to drive manuals (both left and right handed). My car is a manual and I often drive only using one hand, no big deal, you just have to be a bit more pro-active about changing into the right gear before a corner.

.... and more crap.

[Jiminy]

What total crap.

.... and more crap.

What he says. +1.

[Hitcher]

When you get to your age Hitcher HTFU requires a little pill called viagra.

At my age I need a pill called *Anti-viagra* least I inadvertently poke out the eyes of dwarves or do myself a mischief in revolving doors or elevators.

[Hitcher]

Jesus, didn't see that coming.

I think I last heard that from a slow-moving dwarf...

[Swoop]

At my age I need a pill called *Anti-viagra* least I inadvertently poke out the eyes of dwarves or do myself a mischief in revolving doors or elevators.

Just carry a photograph of Heilen Klerke in your wallet for "those" occasions...

Instant soft-on.

[swbarnett]

What total crap.

A good driver is one that respects driving as an activity that requires the highest priority within the brain while the activity is being undertaken. This does not mean that it has to be the only activity the brain is undertaking at the time. Do you ever talk to your passenger while driving a car (I am assuming that you realised I was talking about cars, not bikes)? For a good driver talking on the cell phone is no more distracting.

.... and more crap.

Have you never driven a manual with one hand? Or are you trying to say that it's not possible and I'm lying to you?

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. When I met my one-handed friend in Europe I decided to practice one-handed driving and found it quite easy.

[Mort]

Absolute total shite....

Speaking on the phone, texting, dialing, holding the phone and talking on the phone are all distracting activities. This is made worse if the car is a manual.

Driving whilst on the phone is proven to be as dangerous as drunk driving. People have been killed by drivers distracted by using the phone whilst driving.... and the root cause of those deaths is the use of a phone whilst driving.

[Hitcher]

I think this discussion proves one thing: Passing a law to ban car drivers from talking on cellphones or texting is pointless. Cellphones are an intrinsic part of many people's lives and nothing short of amputation will stop them using them. Attempting to enforce such a law is wasting Police time. There are hundreds of road rules and laws that are flouted daily, about which Police give not a jot. An anti-cellphone-usage law would be just another.

The fact that some people believe that they can text on a cellphone whilst driving with no affect on their ability to control a motor vehicle is stultifying. If they want to kill or maim themselves and their passengers, that's one thing. But please stay well clear of me and mine.

[swbarnett]

Absolute total shite....

Speaking on the phone, texting, dialing, holding the phone and talking on the phone are all distracting activities.

There may be a misunderstanding because I have not been totally clear that I am referring to talking on the cell phone, not dialling or texting.

Talking on a cell phone is no more distracting than a conversation with a passenger. I take it you would not be happy with hands-free kits either?

As to holding the phone, why should it matter where the arm not used to drive is held? If I hang my arm out the window is this distracting?

This is made worse if the car is a manual.

Makes no difference to someone with the competency to drive completely one-handed.

Driving whilst on the phone is proven to be as dangerous as drunk driving. People have been killed by drivers distracted by using the phone whilst driving.... and the root cause of those deaths is the use of a phone whilst driving.

I'm not claiming that all drivers are capable of it, just that it can be done. Poor basic driving skill is the problem, not the phone.


Let me again make it abundantly clear that I am referring to talking, not texting or dialing.

[fredie]

its 3 points here. and fines . it should be a automatic bann 3 months . the morons i have seen useing mobil phone and trying too drive is just more accidents waiting too happen . the law here is a hands free kit is ok

[Mort]

Makes no difference to someone with the competency to drive completely one-handed.

I'm not claiming that all drivers are capable of it, just that it can be done. Poor basic driving skill is the problem, not the phone.

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 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.