Mobile phones and driving

[UK-Fishing-Tackle.co.uk]

Also it doesn't detract from my point that it is an easy crime to spot, sentence on the spot (effectively) and generate income without wasting magistrates time etc.

 

I understand the point - just don't understand why the police don't spend their time chasing other motoring offences and looking at other aspects of motoring which I think statiscally probably cause more accidents (such as drugs offences, poor health oaps etc) AND more general crimes like driving without insurance, which in some areas is estimated to be as high as 1 IN 4 VEHICLES!

[UK-Fishing-Tackle.co.uk]

Also whilst we are on the subject, some people may find the timing of the introduction odd in a week when council tax has been officially kerbed by Gordon Brown to try and appease the masses (the TV is implying our 3.8% rise is only so small beacuse central government has asked councils to peg it back this year, ready for a bigger rise next year), within a month of major think tanks claiming the government got it's maths upto 20bn quid out, and in

 

Presumably taxi drivers can still use radios, lorry drivers CB's etc - oh - and lets not forget, we can still use hands free kits?

 

Forgive me for saying but if concentration is the issue here (which it is claimed it is) I would truthfully love to know the scientific amount of concentration it requires for me to hold a piece of plastic to my head - surely the conversation is what requires concentration which you can still do hands free - so it's bloody pointless. I can adjust my radio frequency (requiring manual button presses), but I cannot press a mobile button? What bizarre logic do government scientists use?

 

In truth I drink coffee whilst I drive (i.e. one handed) WHICH IS RECOMMENDED BY MOST MOTORING ORGANISATIONS. If I am drinking a cup of coffee and using a hands free surely I am in roughly the same position as a mobile user holding a mobile phone and talking - bizarrely one is breaking the law and the other may well be seen on a motorway at night as being vaugely responsible.

 

IF we ban phones all together (i.e. to prevent conversation), then are we going to ban passengers as well, since I've had arguments, business meetings and fairly in-depth debates etc with passengers. Surely, they must be a distraction too which we must remove.

[chesters1]

i find even conversations with passengers distracting ,them using maps even more so

[Guest long-trotter]

Fair point Nick A lot but not all police vehicles are now fitted with roof linning microphones especially pursuit vehicles. Not saying we are better than joe public our training is geared towards multi tasking whilst driving, it's not ideal but it happens and we sometimes get it wrong.

 

The same style of argument can be used with seat belts That is to say Police Officers are permitted not to wear them if the situation merits. Legal exemption but it would be foolhardy not to wear one as often as possible.

 

The same is true for radio use, if you are double crewed then the observer should be doing the radio work but we know from time to time, things don't work that way. However, it would be bad practice not to.

 

There is also a big big difference between holding a phone conversation, and passing information and messages forwards and back in a controlled and focused way, although whilst doing so I agree hands are not on the wheel in some cases. Greater Manchester Police gave a fine demonstration of driving on Car Wars last night with no hands on the wheel at one time bet someone will be taken to one side and given advice.

 

Regards L.T

Edited February 27, 2007 by long-trotter

[Andy_1984]

Hi long-trotter

 

Please don't take this as a dig at you or the police in general, but how do you reconcile what you have said with police using the radio whilst driving?

 

And do the TV get it wrong when they show police officers in pursuit giving a commentary on what is happening?

 

Just wondered.

 

i think its the co-driver who operates the radio

[chesters1]

i think its the co-driver who operates the radio

i though he was the one remotely controlling the helicopter

[barry luxton]

The same style of argument can be used with seat belts That is to say Police Officers are permitted not to wear them if the situation merits. Legal exemption but it would be foolhardy not to wear one as often as possible.

 

 

Hi same style of argument could be used for wearing floatation suits. My local skipper said of me that it would be prudent to wear it as the amount of time i spend afloat is greater than most. To counter that i have also done more than a mil in road miles in less than ten years without misshap so i would still feel safe without a seat belt.

Edited February 27, 2007 by barry luxton

[Guest long-trotter]

[

Forgive me for saying but if concentration is the issue here (which it is claimed it is) I would truthfully love to know the scientific amount of concentration it requires for me to hold a piece of plastic to my head - surely the conversation is what requires concentration which you can still do hands free - so it's bloody pointless. I can adjust my radio frequency (requiring manual button presses), but I cannot press a mobile button? What bizarre logic do government scientists use?

 

It's about concentration and full control of the vehicle you are driving.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rufUUulcGE...ted&search=

 

Edited February 27, 2007 by long-trotter

[seph]

The points is the big thing here, but I honestly think it should have been 6 points. Then if you get caught and don't learn from it, you lose you licence.

[Steve Walker]

Greater Manchester Police gave a fine demonstration of driving on Car Wars last night with no hands on the wheel at one time bet someone will be taken to one side and given advice.

 

If it was the one I saw, they also gave a good demonstration of the passenger not having his seatbelt on during a pursuit! Pursuing a car thief must put them at far higher risk of being in a collision than Doris tootling down to the shops in her Micra, so not to belt up seems mad. I appreciate that he was planning to make a quick exit from the car if the scrote they were chasing stopped and did a runner, but how long does it take to unclip a seatbelt? If it's that big a deal, police cars should have special quick release belts.