Using a phone while driving

[geoffr]

For most of the past 30 years I have had a hands free system in my car either wired or Bluetooth. It hasn’t been a problem but recently I had a wake up. I was driving on the M25 between Junction 11 and Junction 10. I noted a speed limit reduction to 50 when the phone rang. I answered the call, which was brief, a plumber wanting to come early to service a boiler. The distraction was however sufficient for me to forget/not notice whether I had passed the speed limit sign. As it happened I hadn’t and I slowed down in plenty of time. 

Lessons, in no particular order.
Don’t answer the phone

Even an apparently innocuous call can be distracting 

Driving safely comes first

Even if you know the route, set the sat nav, it will give you an estimated arrival time so you can tell someone if you’re going to be late.

Set your phone to reject incoming calls and messages, they can wait until you arrive.

If a call is essential, it might be if you witnessed an accident, better if you make the call, you can make yourself safe first.

[andy]

I've never been tempted by hands free or to answer a call whilst driving.

I don't think there's a weekday goes by that I don't see drivers using a handheld phone whilst driving. A police statistic I saw recently said prosecutions in Midlothian were up 500%....5000% and we might be getting somewhere.

[zou]

There's a legislative disconnect between acknowledging that calls, even on hands free, are a risk, but giant screens like the ones in Elon's mobile self-locking bbqs are seen as ok.

[mick]

Good advice re phones.

I have a large screen which is mostly turned off. It's on when I'm using satnav.

Mick

[geoffr]

Mar 23, 2024 8:24:52 GMT zou said:

There's a legislative disconnect between acknowledging that calls, even on hands free, are a risk, but giant screens like the ones in Elon's mobile self-locking bbqs are seen as ok.

There are many disconnects in our legislation:

It is illegal to have a television in the driver's field of view. It is perfectly legal to have one in the back of a taxi where it can be seen by following drivers? It is OK to have a huge screen by the side of a motorway that changes its image regularly (M25 either side of junction 15)?

In my opinion neither of these is acceptable, they both distract drivers. There is however something worse, roadside LED information signs. The text is generally smaller than a number plate and has a lower contrast with several lines. A driver must be able to read a number plate at 20 metres. Thus, with smaller text one must assume that a driver will need to be less than 20 metres from the sign to read it. Fine if the speed limit is 20, just about OK at 30 but at 50 there is less than one second to read the sign! Not clever but common.

Other disconnects? Certain road signs are required by legislation, one is the countdown markers on motorways another is diversion signs. Different pieces of legislation that have resulted in the 100m marker at Junction 1 of the M40 being obscured by a diversion sign. Another the chevrons on a bend being obstructed by a Slow sign for adjacent road works (the chevrons are reflective the slow sign isn't).

Elon's giant screen is actually better in some respects than a panel full of instruments because it can, in theory, be programmed to display only essential information. My next door neighbour has a Tesla and for me the screen is in the wrong place but I guess positioning it centrally reduces the cost. 

For as long as I can remember governments have tried to solve the nation's problems with legislation. Nobody in parliament seems to have realised that legislation without enforcement does precisely nothing. Without reviewing existing legislation, introducing new legislation risks introducing contradictory requirements. It might be better if parliament spent less money on itself and more on the police.

[geoffr]

Mar 23, 2024 9:05:05 GMT mick said:

Good advice re phones.

I have a large screen which is mostly turned off. It's on when I'm using satnav.

Mick

I have one, centrally positioned, I ignore it most of the time, it displays a map by default but I can also have a map on the instrument panel where it is less of a distraction. Modern cars display far too much unnecessary information.

[Kath]

I don't have hands free capability for my phone when driving precisely because I know that if I did I'd use it, and I'd rather just not be able to. No phone call, even desperately important news about a famly member is worth my dying or killing someone else for a moment of distraction.

[peterob]

Mar 23, 2024 10:08:38 GMT geoffr said:

Mar 23, 2024 8:24:52 GMT zou said:

There's a legislative disconnect between acknowledging that calls, even on hands free, are a risk, but giant screens like the ones in Elon's mobile self-locking bbqs are seen as ok.

There are many disconnects in our legislation:

It is illegal to have a television in the driver's field of view. It is perfectly legal to have one in the back of a taxi where it can be seen by following drivers? It is OK to have a huge screen by the side of a motorway that changes its image regularly (M25 either side of junction 15)?

In my opinion neither of these is acceptable, they both distract drivers. There is however something worse, roadside LED information signs. The text is generally smaller than a number plate and has a lower contrast with several lines. A driver must be able to read a number plate at 20 metres. Thus, with smaller text one must assume that a driver will need to be less than 20 metres from the sign to read it. Fine if the speed limit is 20, just about OK at 30 but at 50 there is less than one second to read the sign! Not clever but common.

Other disconnects? Certain road signs are required by legislation, one is the countdown markers on motorways another is diversion signs. Different pieces of legislation that have resulted in the 100m marker at Junction 1 of the M40 being obscured by a diversion sign. Another the chevrons on a bend being obstructed by a Slow sign for adjacent road works (the chevrons are reflective the slow sign isn't).

Elon's giant screen is actually better in some respects than a panel full of instruments because it can, in theory, be programmed to display only essential information. My next door neighbour has a Tesla and for me the screen is in the wrong place but I guess positioning it centrally reduces the cost. 

For as long as I can remember governments have tried to solve the nation's problems with legislation. Nobody in parliament seems to have realised that legislation without enforcement does precisely nothing. Without reviewing existing legislation, introducing new legislation risks introducing contradictory requirements. It might be better if parliament spent less money on itself and more on the police.

My most memorable (hardest to forget) taxi ride was airport to hotel on Rodos.  The driver had a portable TV in front of him on the dash and it was (a clearly important to him) football match.  The match was going well because he was cheering and waving (no hands on wheel) most of the way.  Company rules said that I should have demanded the car be stopped and I should have got out.  It being dark, in the middle of no-where and speaking no Greek, I closed my eyes and prayed silently.  

[MJB]

Id ban talk radio when driving as well. Following a play or some in depth discussion is equally distracting.

[geoffr]

Mar 23, 2024 12:25:37 GMT MJB said:

Id ban talk radio when driving as well. Following a play or some in depth discussion is equally distracting.

I sort of agree, when I was visiting Cardiff airport regularly I would leave roughly when the afternoon play started. More often than not I was halfway back to the Severn Bridge when it finished and I had no memory of any of the play. Much easier to ignore a play on the radio than a phone conversation.

[peterob]

Mar 23, 2024 12:25:37 GMT MJB said:

Id ban talk radio when driving as well. Following a play or some in depth discussion is equally distracting.

I'd ban talking to the driver.  I hate either following, or being followed by, a car in which animated chat is taking place between the driver and front-seat passenger.   Especially when the driver keeps looking at the passenger to gauge reaction.  

I'd also ban vaping.  Goodness knows how some folk can see inside their vehicle. It is a familiar sight, the window coming down and the vast cloud of vapour billowing out.  

[willien]

Mar 23, 2024 16:02:05 GMT peterob said:

Mar 23, 2024 12:25:37 GMT MJB said:

Id ban talk radio when driving as well. Following a play or some in depth discussion is equally distracting.

I'd ban talking to the driver.  I hate either following, or being followed by, a car in which animated chat is taking place between the driver and front-seat passenger.   Especially when the driver keeps looking at the passenger to gauge reaction.  

I'd also ban vaping.  Goodness knows how some folk can see inside their vehicle. It is a familiar sight, the window coming down and the vast cloud of vapour billowing out.  

I find the price of not being talked at while driving is constant vigilence and swearing as required.

[andy]

Mar 23, 2024 16:02:05 GMT peterob said:

Mar 23, 2024 12:25:37 GMT MJB said:

Id ban talk radio when driving as well. Following a play or some in depth discussion is equally distracting.

I'd ban talking to the driver.  I hate either following, or being followed by, a car in which animated chat is taking place between the driver and front-seat passenger.   Especially when the driver keeps looking at the passenger to gauge reaction.  

I'd also ban vaping.  Goodness knows how some folk can see inside their vehicle. It is a familiar sight, the window coming down and the vast cloud of vapour billowing out.  

Re vaping...

www.yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Vaping-In-Your-Car-Can-Land-You-A-2000-Fine

[neilt3]

I've never answered the phone while driving , I frequently don't answer it while I'm not driving !

Anyone I know that want's to contact me know to send me a text message and I'll get back to them as soon as I can .
The reason being is I'm typically working , on the road or whatever .

So if the phone goes it's probably not someone I know , and they can leave a message so either I'll get back to them , or not .
The only time the phone is out in my campervan is when I occasionally use it as a satnav , or when I'm parked up having a brew .

[don]

I haven’t driven in many years but I’m sure if I was still driving I wouldn’t answer the phone or use it whilst driving. It one of my pet hates and I used to gesticulate to people using one. Now I’m in my wheelchair in the back of our vehicle I can’t see them