Does anyone not use their phone while driving??

augmented reality

Is there anyone out there that doesn't use their phone (holds it up to ear or texts) while driving?? I see a huge amount of people doing it every day and rarely see anyone pulled into the side of the road to take a call.
Is this law being enforced. I'm just ranting now because a woman at the front of the traffic light queue today was too busy texting to realise the light was green, and then stalled..

andyseadog

if your writing a text while driving, for 2 seconds out of every 3 (40 seconds per minute, to dramatize it) you arent concentrating on the road.

its not really worth the risk of being in an accident and hurting someone, never mind the points.

Plug

I'll be honest, Im constantly doing it but Im always on the look out for guards in mirrors etc. I have not be in a near collision yet because of it. I think you should put a poll up.

ironclaw

augmented reality wrote: »

Is there anyone out there that doesn't use their phone (holds it up to ear or texts) while driving?? I see a huge amount of people doing it every day and rarely see anyone pulled into the side of the road to take a call.
Is this law being enforced. I'm just ranting now because a woman at the front of the traffic light queue today was too busy texting to realise the light was green, and then stalled..

I place my iPhone on silent and upside down when I'm driving. I can multitask fairly well but I would never hold a phone / text when driving. Its just stupid I think. Your mind can't be two places at once. I even feel distracted on handsfree.

I never get though whats so critical that it can't wait til one is stopped or at their destination?

Oh_Noes

Tbh I'm guilty of it at times because it's work related and it could result in me having to turn the car around or go somewhere else. When you're stuck in traffic or somewhere with no space to pull in then it's a last resort.

There's not one situation where texting needs immediate attention, you don't text an ambulance when you break your leg; so all texting while driving is completely stupid and irresponsible.

And as much as I don't like to say it, in my own experience women are the biggest culprits of text-driving by a long, long way.

andyseadog

Plug wrote: »

I'll be honest, Im constantly doing it but Im always on the look out for guards in mirrors etc. I have not be in a near collision yet because of it. I think you should put a poll up.

where do you live so i can avoid that area like the plague.

like i said, **** the points from the guards, how would you feel if your lack of concentration killed someone?

Mr. Presentable

Plug wrote: »

I'll be honest, Im constantly doing it but Im always on the look out for guards in mirrors etc. I have not be in a near collision yet because of it. I think you should put a poll up.

I hope you don't take anyone else with you when you go

Plug

andyseadog wrote: »

where do you live so i can avoid that area like the plague.

like i said, **** the points from the guards, how would you feel if your lack of concentration killed someone?

They only brought in that mobile phone law a few years ago and since that everyone is like 'if you use a phone while driving you'll kill someone' :rolleyes: I suppose I might add in I don't text only make calls.

Plug

Mr. Presentable wrote: »

I hope you don't take anyone else with you when you go

I shouldn't have said anything:D

andyseadog

Plug wrote: »

They only brought in that mobile phone law a few years ago and since that everyone is like 'if you use a phone while driving you'll kill someone' :rolleyes: I suppose I might add in I don't text only make calls.

just how would you feel if your lack of concentration killed someone?

newtoboards

I never use my phone in the car. I put it on silent and drive. The longest I drive for without stopping is about two hours as that's the furthest away family lives. I can easily live without my phone for that length of time.

MagicMarker

I don't but I admit that I have done so on a couple of occasions, 99% of the time I just ignore my phone.

Plug

andyseadog wrote: »

just how would you feel if your lack of concentration killed someone?

In fairness I don't be looking at the ground or staring at the phone, I have my eyes on the road and look in the mirrors occasionally like your supposed to do.

andyseadog

Plug wrote: »

In fairness I don't be looking at the ground or staring at the phone, I have my eyes on the road and look in the mirrors occasionally like your supposed to do.

so if i was on the phone at the wheel when i knocked down your wife/ child/ mother/ dog whatever, you wouldnt use that against me?

Loopy

I do.

Plug

andyseadog wrote: »

so if i was on the phone at the wheel when i knocked down your wife/ child/ mother/ dog whatever, you wouldnt use that against me?

But how would I know your on the phone at the time of the incident. In my mind most mobile phone related crashes are probably related to making texts rather than just making a call. Im a caller rather than texting person.


RSA now in a few weeks its illegal to talk to someone in the car:D

andyseadog

Plug wrote: »

But how would I know your on the phone at the time of the incident. In my mind most mobile phone related crashes are probably related to making texts rather than just making a call. Im a caller rather than texting person.


RSA now in a few weeks its illegal to talk to someone in the car:D

if needs be, it can be very easily discovered when the phone was last used and where, never mind witnesses.

talking to a passenger is totally different. to use your phone, you are driving with one hand, which is not enough.

Plug

andyseadog wrote: »

if needs be, it can be very easily discovered when the phone was last used and where, never mind witnesses.

talking to a passenger is totally different. to use your phone, you are driving with one hand, which is not enough.

Changing the channels on the radio or changing gear. I thought it only takes a split second:rolleyes:

Sorry if I sound like im a troll but im not, i just think making calls is ok but not texting. Sorry again.

Stheno

I take calls using my blue tooth which cuts in across my radio etc.

Texting no.

newtoboards

Stheno wrote: »

I take calls using my blue tooth which cuts in across my radio etc.

Texting no.

I used to use handsfree too but I like the silence in the car, so so peaceful.

stoneill

Has anyone (as a passenger) asked the driver to stop using the phone when driving?

corktina

augmented reality wrote: »

Is there anyone out there that doesn't use their phone (holds it up to ear or texts) while driving?? I see a huge amount of people doing it every day and rarely see anyone pulled into the side of the road to take a call.
Is this law being enforced. I'm just ranting now because a woman at the front of the traffic light queue today was too busy texting to realise the light was green, and then stalled..

should you be posting on Boards whilst driving?:D Oh TODAY...missed that bit

well "I do" is my answer to your question (I do NOT use my phone except on handfree that is)

rameire

no, i dont, i hate people who use their phone while driving.
the laws of the land should allow people to be shot on sight of using a phone.
my friends brother had both his legs chopped off due to an idiot using a phone while driving.

whiterebel

stoneill wrote: »

Has anyone (as a passenger) asked the driver to stop using the phone when driving?

Yes, I had to ask a taxi driver.......

theteal

i did a fair bit of browsing during the six hour snowy madness of getting home last monday. . . but then again, it's in a cradle stuck to the windscreen so apparently i broke no laws (or so i've been told, device has to be handheld to be in breach of the law apparently ??????)

other than that, i put a bluetooth stereo in the car when i first got it, pretty simple solution. . .now it just looks like i'm talking to myself when driving alone

gbee

Plug wrote: »

I'll be honest, Im constantly doing it but Im always on the look out for guards in mirrors etc. I have not be in a near collision yet because of it. I think you should put a poll up.

You're on camera. If you actually see the cop car it's actually after you, they won't necessarily have seen you in person, they'll have a pic sent to them from control.

peasant

Has anybody ever watched how odd people behave when they are on the phone?

An airport departure lounge is the perfect place for observation. Only look at those that are actually moving. They tend to walk in circles / stand in stupid places / bump into people / stop in the middle of traffic ...in short they are a general nuisance to everyone around them.

How does placing this sort of uncoordinated behaviour into a moving car make it safe all of a sudden?

_Kaiser_

I have a Bluetooth kit in the car that's wired into the stereo so I make and receive calls all the time.

I don't think its distracting though - if anything people often ask me if I'm still there because I've just trailed off mid conversion (while looking for a gap to change lanes etc), and I don't text n drive as it's impossible with a touch screen phone anyway!

As for the holding the phone = less control argument, I suppose that's true in most cases but I drive an automatic so don't need a hand for gear changes and I find I have LESS control if I have both hands on the wheel - unless I'm taking a roundabout or something.

golden8

I was nearly hit side on at Stillorgan junction lights (I was on Trees Road turning onto N11 Wicklow bound) for us was green I was third car from start of the queue. A guy in a van broke the red lights. He managed to stop just in time although he did not touch/crash my car but the gap before impact was just about 4" and it was going for driver side. FYI all loose items that were in his van where shifted towards the front due to his emergency stop. He mentioned he did not see the lights. It was quite obvious that he did notice. I had a lucky escape.

Anyone who is constantly looking in mirrors for Guards is not concentrating on the job in hand ie driving. You might think that a bit harsh but when your at the receiving end you will pull over or ignore the phone until safe to make that call. I would consider myself very lucky that I did not loose my life through no fault of my own but for a person on a mobile talking.

Stay safe.

gbee

theteal wrote: »

. . . but then again, it's in a cradle stuck to the windscreen so apparently i broke no laws (or so i've been told, device has to be handheld to be in breach of the law apparently ??????)

There is still due care and attention, you can be done for talking to your passenger and speaking to someone on the phone if the member takes the view that you were concentrating on the conversation too much.

You can also be done for changing the channel on your push button radio, CD etc, drinking from a bottle '''' the list is endless actually.

Glowing

Never - I know I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the two things at once! I wouldn't even use a bluetooth kit, it's bad enough that I have a radio to fiddle with.

gbee

Glowing wrote: »

Never - I know I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the two things at once! I wouldn't even use a bluetooth kit, it's bad enough that I have a radio to fiddle with.

Actually, I often punch off the radio altogether ~ it can be distracting.

andyseadog

golden8 wrote: »

I was nearly hit side on at Stillorgan junction lights (I was on Trees Road turning onto N11 Wicklow bound) for us was green I was third car from start of the queue. A guy in a van broke the red lights. He managed to stop just in time although he did not touch/crash my car but the gap before impact was just about 4" and it was going for driver side. FYI all loose items that were in his van where shifted towards the front due to his emergency stop. He mentioned he did not see the lights. It was quite obvious that he did notice. I had a lucky escape.

Anyone who is constantly looking in mirrors for Guards is not concentrating on the job in hand ie driving. You might think that a bit harsh but when your at the receiving end you will pull over or ignore the phone until safe to make that call. I would consider myself very lucky that I did not loose my life through no fault of my own but for a person on a mobile talking.

Stay safe.

x2

-Corkie-

I use the phone all the time but I have a bluetooth handsfree with voice recognition so I dont even look at my phone while driving not to mind pick it up.

True for the OP though I have never seen as many people using the phone. Texting is way way more dangerous than talking imo.

I dont mind the likes of reps or truckdrivers etc using the phone because they are well experienced. Its these mums with MPV`S and old men slowing down to 30 KMH to talk...:mad::mad:

donkey balls

A company that I worked for had in their drivers manual that the likes of blue tooth headsets and nokia head phones are illegal to use while driving,Since it was a UK plc I had to inform that here in Ireland they are perfectely legal;).
I use a nokia headset that when the phone rings i just press the button on the controler and talk away while having both hands on the wheel if I want to make a call I just press the controller say the name of who I want to ring and it does it for me.

ironclaw

-Corkie- wrote: »

I dont mind the likes of reps or truckdrivers etc using the phone because they are well experienced. Its these mums with MPV`S and old men slowing down to 30 KMH to talk...:mad::mad:

Wouldn't agree with that. The only experienced drivers in this country are people that have actually undergone serious training which is in the minority.

Your still trying to do two things at once which is nigh impossible to do.Your in a car etc to drive not talk / text. What is so important anyway? I have no problem with a fully handsfree system. But you should not have your phone in your hand.

augmented reality

augmented reality wrote: »

Is this law being enforced..

I got 2 penalty points years back and a fine The thing was I pulled in as I answered the call, the Garda also did me for crossing a continuous white line (I pulled in to the other side of the road ).

conorby

You can not be done for changing a channel on a radio, ridiculous statement. Holding a phone while driving is the offence.