RSA switch off before you dive off

moonpurple · 18-05-2010 1:01pm #1

on the radio the road safety authority are telling us to

'switch off before you drive off'

did a transition year student write this ad....do they think we would turn off our mobile phones during car journeys

cop on rsa

Cookie_Monster · 18-05-2010 1:05pm

The RSA can fuck off before I drive off

biko · 18-05-2010 1:06pm

Here's a few more from me:
Hands free saves the day.
Loose lips sinks cars.

artanevilla · 18-05-2010 1:08pm

I only make phone calls on car journeys.

mikom · 18-05-2010 1:10pm

biko wrote: »

Here's a few more from me:
Hands free saves the day.
Loose lips sinks cars.

When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Hitler!

Domscard · 18-05-2010 1:10pm

But it's probably a good idea to switch off before you 'dive' off - water damages mobile phones

Minstrel27 · 18-05-2010 1:12pm

moonpurple wrote: »

on the radio the road safety authority are telling us to

'switch off before you drive off'

did a transition year student write this ad....do they think we would turn off our mobile phones during car journeys

cop on rsa

OP I heard this advert this morning and I agree with you 100%

Cookie_Monster · 18-05-2010 1:18pm

biko wrote: »

Loose lips sinks cars.

only if you're driving up a canal

gurramok · 18-05-2010 1:32pm

Men cannot drive alone, they need a woman passenger to help them 'slow' down on the roads, get the message boys, not the points

Dunjohn · 18-05-2010 1:33pm

The typo honestly made me think the Water Safety Authority was cautioning against the dangers of electrocution by going swimming with your mobile switched on.

I'd blame Monday but it's Tuesday.

I have my phone switched on when I'm driving, but I ignore it until I'm parked somewhere. Might be an emergency. My sister once drove to Dublin with her mobile off. It was a couple of hours before we were able to contact her to tell her the police were after her - she'd forgotten to pay at a petrol station in Athlone.

SV · 18-05-2010 1:45pm

I sometimes drive without a seatbelt and at twice the speed limit past schools and on my mobile whilst drinking a pint and with bald tires on the car and an expired nct.

and I ALWAYS ARRIVE ALIVE :mad:
the RSA is just discriminating against me and my life choices. :mad:

but yeah, stupid fúcking idea..as usual, go fúck yourself RSA

General Zod · 18-05-2010 1:48pm

moonpurple wrote: »

do they think we would turn off our mobile phones during car journeys

cop on rsa

Aye, what were they thinking, trying to convince you to drive safer. The absolute nerve of them.

SV · 18-05-2010 1:49pm

General Zod wrote: »

Aye, what were they thinking, trying to convince you to drive safer. The absolute nerve of them.

do you drive?

CreepingDeath · 18-05-2010 1:50pm

SV wrote: »

I sometimes drive without a seatbelt and at twice the speed limit past schools and on my mobile whilst drinking a pint and with bald tires on the car and an expired nct.

Let me guess... taxi driver ?

SV · 18-05-2010 1:52pm

CreepingDeath wrote: »

Let me guess... taxi driver ?

yes, but I only drive like that when I have passengers!
also had the indicators removed to make way for a pint holder

General Zod · 18-05-2010 1:53pm

SV wrote: »

do you drive?

No, but I had my scooter totalled by a driver on a mobile phone going through a red light. luckilly I only ended up rolling over the bonnet instead of being thrown 20 feet like my bike.

Cookie_Monster · 18-05-2010 1:54pm

General Zod wrote: »

Aye, what were they thinking, trying to convince you to drive safer. The absolute nerve of them.

what does your phone being turned on have to do with that?

Maybe you have the ability to ignore stuff
Maybe you have a car kit
Maybe you put it on silent

etc etc etc

there is no reason to turn a phone off while driving

Yakult · 18-05-2010 2:01pm

Im never turning my fone off when driving. If I were to get into a single car accident I might need my phone to ring the emergency services. and well, if my fone is off it takes 30 minutes to come back on. 30 minutes in which I might not have. Suck ma balls rsa.

General Zod · 18-05-2010 2:03pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

what does your phone being turned on have to do with that?

Maybe you have the ability to ignore stuff
Maybe you have a car kit
Maybe you put it on silent

etc etc etc

there is no reason to turn a phone off while driving

If everyone turned off their phones while driving there would be less accidents.

the RSA is set up to reduce the amount of accidents on our roads through public safety initiatives. While some of their campaigns have been a little ill-advised, I don't think this one is.

CreepingDeath · 18-05-2010 2:09pm

Maybe they should check peoples call history after an accident.
In the same way that (I think?) it's mandatory/standard practice to take a breathalyser after an accident, the guards should check the call history of your phone to see if you've been using it.

The phone companies would have information showing what cell towers the conversation started on, and probably be able to provide a crude trail through eg. Dublin city of your speed/location during the conversation.
It would be proof that you were driving while on the phone ( assuming there was only one person in the vehicle at the time, otherwise they could say someone else was using the phone ).

DubMedic · 18-05-2010 2:14pm

moonpurple wrote: »

on the radio the road safety authority are telling us to

'switch off before you drive off'

did a transition year student write this ad....do they think we would turn off our mobile phones during car journeys

cop on rsa

http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/accidents-gardai-and-penalties/penalty-points-fixed-charge-offences/index.html

Minstrel27 · 18-05-2010 2:15pm

General Zod wrote: »

If everyone turned off their phones while driving there would be less accidents.

No. If people didn't use their phones while driving there would be less accidents. Turning it off is pointless

If I am driving and my phone rings I will pull over if it is important and answer. If it is not important I leave it ring out.

Minstrel27 · 18-05-2010 2:15pm

DubMedic wrote: »

http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/accidents-gardai-and-penalties/penalty-points-fixed-charge-offences/index.html

Where does it state that you will get points for having your phone turned on?

dr.bollocko · 18-05-2010 2:18pm

But I'm still allowed beep at learners right?

prinz · 18-05-2010 2:25pm

Minstrel27 wrote: »

No. If people didn't use their phones while driving there would be less accidents. Turning it off is pointless
If I am driving and my phone rings I will pull over if it is important and answer. If it is not important I leave it ring out.

Are you pscyhic or do your eyes leave the road and go to your phone to see if it's important or not?

General Zod · 18-05-2010 2:34pm

Minstrel27 wrote: »

No. If people didn't use their phones while driving there would be less accidents. Turning it off is pointless

If I am driving and my phone rings I will pull over if it is important and answer. If it is not important I leave it ring out.

That's sensible. however, do you disagree that looking at your phone to see who is calling is a distraction? Do you disagree that reducing the amount of distractions would reduce the amount of accidents?

The HorsesMouth · 18-05-2010 2:39pm

So what will be their stance on taxi drivers? We will have to send indian smoke signals to get a taxi now.....

Gob****es.

Kimono-Girl · 18-05-2010 2:47pm

prinz wrote: »

Are you pscyhic or do your eyes leave the road and go to your phone to see if it's important or not?

Psychic or not your eyes leave the road in front of you when you look at your passengers while driving esp children, when you look at your radio, when you look in your rear view mirror,side mirrors, blind side...etc part of learning how to drive is to be able to drive safely while looking away to check rear view and blind side mirrors...etc

so what difference does a quick glance to see who's name is flashing up make? as long as you do it safely!;)

i think turning it off is a bit extreme, if you are going to go that far for *safety* you might as well ban, car radio's/Music...passangers (they could be a distraction you know) i mean people can still drive legally with one hand holding food/drink...and yet you are saying its unsafe to glance at a mobile screen???? :rolleyes:

when it comes to mobiles i think they have legislated it enough. and instead maybe concentrate their efforts on improving peoples STANDARD of basic driving and making licences harder to obtain.

dan719 · 18-05-2010 2:57pm

General Zod wrote: »

If everyone turned off their phones while driving there would be less accidents.

the RSA is set up to reduce the amount of accidents on our roads through public safety initiatives. While some of their campaigns have been a little ill-advised, I don't think this one is.

Other things that would reduce accidents;

5 MPH speed limits.

Death penalty for drink driving.

Getting rid of cars.

There is a trade off between practicaliaty (spl?) and safety. Realistically people will not turn off their phones while driving, the money spent on this campaign could have been used to encourage hands free kits, or even subsidise the fecking things.

prinz · 18-05-2010 3:00pm

candlelover wrote: »

Psychic or not your eyes leave the road in front of you when you look at your passengers while driving esp children, when you look at your radio, when you look in your rear view mirror,side mirrors, blind side...etc part of learning how to drive is to be able to drive safely while looking away to check rear view and blind side mirrors...etc.

Checking your mirrors is part of safe driving. The RSA is hardly going to advocate driving as a solitary pursuit either. It's a bit much to get knickers in a twist because they actually come up with sensible proposals. If you don't need your phone - switch it off, going to be on a journey of a few minutes - switch it off.

Min · 18-05-2010 3:02pm

R_H_C_P wrote: »

Im never turning my fone off when driving. If I were to get into a single car accident I might need my phone to ring the emergency services. and well, if my fone is off it takes 30 minutes to come back on. 30 minutes in which I might not have. Suck ma balls rsa.

30 minutes?

Sounds like a phone from the dinosaur era :P

starbelgrade · 18-05-2010 3:05pm

The RSA give advice on Road Safety, the same way the likes of Health Boards give advice on health issues. No-one is saying that you have to turn your phone off whilst driving, the same way that no-one is saying that you have to eat healthy food, but if you do turn your phone off & eat healthy, your more likely to live a healthier life.

If you don't, then that's your choice.

we'llallhavetea_old · 18-05-2010 3:16pm

probably gonna get hassle for this but,

i use my phone while driving all the time.

if it is safe to pick up my phone and answer it when i'm driving, i will. it's not like i am going to crash the car rather than drop the phone. i know my own limits, if i'm not able to manage the phone and driving at the same time, i will drop the phone on my lap and pick it back up when i'm able.

its not rocket science people.

/rant

Cookie_Monster · 18-05-2010 3:16pm

General Zod wrote: »

That's sensible. however, do you disagree that looking at your phone to see who is calling is a distraction? Do you disagree that reducing the amount of distractions would reduce the amount of accidents?

should we ban car radios then, they're distracting

or taking to a passanger, just as distracting as talking to someone on the handsfree

starbelgrade · 18-05-2010 3:19pm

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

probably gonna get hassle for this but,

i use my phone while driving all the time.

if it is safe to pick up my phone and answer it when i'm driving, i will. it's not like i am going to crash the car rather than drop the phone. i know my own limits, if i'm not able to manage the phone and driving at the same time, i will drop the phone on my lap and pick it back up when i'm able.

its not rocket science people.

/rant

I hate seeing people driving whilst using their phones.

It's never safe to pick up your phone whilst driving - it might seem so, but that means nothing. By using your phone, you are not only endandering your own life, but also the life of others, which is just downright selfish.

Get a handsfree kit.

we'llallhavetea_old · 18-05-2010 3:22pm

starbelgrade wrote: »

I hate seeing people driving whilst using their phones.

It's never safe to pick up your phone whilst driving - it might seem so, but that means nothing. By using your phone, you are not only endandering your own life, but also the life of others, which is just downright selfish.

Get a handsfree kit.

do you think the same of people who change the channel on their radio?

if not, why not?

its just as distracting, the only difference is that its not illegal.

starbelgrade · 18-05-2010 3:35pm

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

do you think the same of people who change the channel on their radio?

if not, why not?

its just as distracting, the only difference is that its not illegal.

It takes about as much time to change the radio station as it does to check your rear view / side mirrors or check the speedometer. Yes - it is a distraction, but in terms of safety, it is a very minor one.

Using your phone whilst driving, dimishes your capacity to react to road conditions or the actions of other road users - your concentration is diminished & you've only one hand on the wheel.

Look, people used to say the same thing about having a few pints & getting into a car. You could substitute drink for mobile phones in your other post..

"i drink & drive all the time.

if it is safe to have a few pints before i'm driving, i will. it's not like i am going to crash the car. i know my own limits, if i'm not have a few pints & go driving, i will have a coffee and drive when i'm able.

its not rocket science people."

Now, I'm not saying that drink driving is as dangerous as using a phone whilst driving, but it is still dangerous & it causes accidents. The degrees of dangerous are really irrelevant. The problem is that a lot of road users have the attitude that it's completely safe to do so & that is an attitude that needs to be changed.

we'llallhavetea_old · 18-05-2010 3:42pm

starbelgrade wrote: »

It takes about as much time to change the radio station as it does to check your rear view / side mirrors or check the speedometer. Yes - it is a distraction, but in terms of safety, it is a very minor one.

i have to disagree here.

have you listened to the shoite on the radio? it takes aaaages to find anything, not just a second.

Using your phone whilst driving, dimishes your capacity to react to road conditions or the actions of other road users - your concentration is diminished & you've only one hand on the wheel.

yes you have only one hand on the wheel, the same applies to changing gears/ radio/ hill starts etc

like i said, if i need my two hands, i drop the phone.

Look, people used to say the same thing about having a few pints & getting into a car. You could substitute drink for mobile phones in your other post..

"i drink & drive all the time.

if it is safe to have a few pints before i'm driving, i will. it's not like i am going to crash the car. i know my own limits, if i'm not have a few pints & go driving, i will have a coffee and drive when i'm able.

its not rocket science people."

Now, I'm not saying that drink driving is as dangerous as using a phone whilst driving, but it is still dangerous & it causes accidents. The degrees of dangerous are really irrelevant. The problem is that a lot of road users have the attitude that it's completely safe to do so & that is an attitude that needs to be changed.

yeah, drink driving is not a very good argument tbh. you cannot turn off drunkenness, like you can drop your phone.

ejmaztec · 18-05-2010 3:46pm

Dunjohn wrote: »

The typo honestly made me think the Water Safety Authority was cautioning against the dangers of electrocution by going swimming with your mobile switched on.

I thought it was a Father Larry Duff thread, the one who should have been recruited for the campaign, if he isn't still dead.

--Kaiser-- · 18-05-2010 4:23pm

Studies have suggested driving while using a phone is similar to driving after a few ales in the detrimental effect it has on driving skills.

Study

I once saw a girl driving at 100 kph on a dual carriageway with a phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, disgraceful.

ejmaztec · 18-05-2010 4:40pm

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I once saw a girl driving at 100 kph on a dual carriageway with a phone in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, disgraceful.

I wonder where she put the Mars Bar.

Indubitable · 18-05-2010 4:47pm

moonpurple wrote: »

on the radio the road safety authority are telling us to

'switch off before you drive off'

did a transition year student write this ad....do they think we would turn off our mobile phones during car journeys

cop on rsa

Transition years are not that stupid.

General Zod · 18-05-2010 5:35pm

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

should we ban car radios then, they're distracting

actually, car radios (or at least, changing the station/track etc) have a comparible distraction rate in accidents to mobile phones. Hands free kits were less (where handfree were actually handsfree, ie activated by voice or bluetooth headset).

However, noone is talking about a ban. they are talking about people taking steps themselves to improve their safety while driving.

or taking to a passanger, just as distracting as talking to someone on the handsfree

Studies show this isn't actually true, as passengers are better able to regulate conversation based on traffic conditions than a person at the other end of a phone, so the risk is almost negligible.

I'll quote the wiki for this one

A study by a University of South Carolina psychology researcher featured in the journal, Experimental Psychology, found that planning to speak and speaking put far more demands on the brain’s resources than listening. Measurement of attention levels showed that subjects were four times more distracted while preparing to speak or speaking than when they were listening.[22] The Accident Research Unit at the University of Nottingham found that the number of utterances was usually higher for mobile calls when compared to blindfolded and non-blindfolded passengers across various driving conditions. The number of questions asked averaged slightly higher for mobile phone conversations, although results were not constant across road types and largely influenced by a large number of questions on the urban roads.[23] A 2004 University of Utah simulation study that compared passenger and cell-phone conversations concluded that the driver performs better when conversing with a passenger because the traffic and driving task become part of the conversation. Drivers holding conversations on cell phones were four times more likely to miss the highway exit than those with passengers, and drivers conversing with passengers showed no statistically significant difference from lone drivers in the simulator.[24] A study led by Andrew Parkes at the Transport Research Laboratory, also with a driving simulator, concluded that hands-free phone conversations impair driving performance more than other common in-vehicle distractions such as passenger conversations.[25]

starbelgrade · 18-05-2010 8:17pm

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

yeah, drink driving is not a very good argument tbh. you cannot turn off drunkenness, like you can drop your phone.

Talking on a mobile phone while driving is more dangerous than being over the legal alcohol limit, according to research.

Tests by scientists at the Transport Research Laboratory said drivers on mobiles had slower reaction times and stopping times than those under the influence of alcohol.

Source ; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1885775.stm

There are numerous other studies which indicate similar results. Look, the basic fact is - and you can deny it all you want, though you will never be right - is that using a phone whilst driving is dangerous.

It may take a couple of penalty points & a fine for people to wake up to this fact, because the last thing you'd wish on anybody is to have an accident before they cop the hell on.

we'llallhavetea_old · 18-05-2010 8:24pm

starbelgrade wrote: »

Source ; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1885775.stm

There are numerous other studies which indicate similar results. Look, the basic fact is - and you can deny it all you want, though you will never be right - is that using a phone whilst driving is dangerous.

i'm not saying its not dangerous, i'm just saying i do it and i'm fully capable of driving safely at the same time. others, maybe not.

starbelgrade · 18-05-2010 8:26pm

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

i'm not saying its not dangerous, i'm just saying i do it and i'm fully capable of driving safely at the same time. others, maybe not.

You sound exactly like the oul man at the bar who says he's perfectly capable of driving home after 5 or 6 pints coz he's been doing it for years & never had any problems.

we'llallhavetea_old · 18-05-2010 8:32pm

starbelgrade wrote: »

You sound exactly like the oul man at the bar who says he's perfectly capable of driving home after 5 or 6 pints coz he's been doing it for years & never had any problems.

maybe i do.

i don't think i have anything else to say. i'm not gonna change your mind/ you're not gonna change mine.

starbelgrade · 18-05-2010 8:34pm

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

maybe i do.

i don't think i have anything else to say. i'm not gonna change your mind/ you're not gonna change mine.

Well let's hope that it's not a car crash that makes you cop the f*ck on.

Pace2008 · 18-05-2010 8:41pm

starbelgrade wrote: »

You sound exactly like the oul man at the bar who says he's perfectly capable of driving home after 5 or 6 pints coz he's been doing it for years & never had any problems.

My granda as well. Everyone overestimates their own abilities to some extent, but more so when it comes to assessing their own driving capabilities - 80% of people consider themselves to be above average motorists.

we'llallhavetea, see illusory superiority. Funnily enough, people guilty of this bias often think it doesn't apply to them.

dr.bollocko · 18-05-2010 8:45pm

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

i'm not saying its not dangerous, i'm just saying i do it and i'm fully capable of driving safely at the same time. others, maybe not.

starbelgrade wrote: »

Well let's hope that it's not a car crash that makes you cop the f*ck on.

This TBH. No offense but it's a well dodgy tactic.
Stuck in a stream of unending traffic chattering on a phone whilst slowly edging forward, not so much of an issue. Intricate inner city driving, much bigger problems. Just get yourself a hands free. They cost feck all and are legal. It's that simple. That way you have both hands to indicate and change gear, properly work the steering wheel. It's not rocket science that you can see that it's going to have a negative result on your ability to drive.

we'llallhavetea_old · 18-05-2010 8:49pm

Pace2008 wrote: »

My granda as well. Everyone overestimates their own abilities to some extent, but more so when it comes to assessing their own driving capabilities - 80% of people consider themselves to be above average motorists.

we'llallhavetea, see illusory superiority. Funnily enough, people guilty of this bias often think it doesn't apply to them.

i never said i was a better driver than anyone, i said i can drive and talk on the bloody phone fine.

i can't parallel park to save my life.

can i just reiterate, that i do not think that i'm always capable of doing both and when that situation arises, i drop the phone.

RSA switch off before you dive off

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