Anyone charged with texting/driving yet?

Comhrá

While I was stopped at traffic lights in Limerick yesterday, the young lady driver in the lane next to me was so busy texting, she missed the green light and delayed traffic behind her for 5-8 seconds before noticing it was time to move on. :mad:

Has anyone been charged with this specific offence yet or is it too early for any charge to have come to court since the introduction of the new law?

ofcork

Its rampant everywhere you see the light from the phones as people are looking down,and as many are still using them while driving.

colm_mcm

I'd post a link only I'm coming into a 50 zone

anncoates

Will type a longer answer at next set of traffic lights.

Edit: damn you to hell

deandean

i just speak into my phone now and the words appear on the screen so i don't need to text hey move over you silly cow jesus she shouldnt be on the bloody road feckin toyota drivers they should stay at home and who do you think you are pulling out in front of me you skanger

corktina

I don't text whilst driving. I tried it once and spilt my coffee all over my newspaper

Tzardine

I am not trying to troll but..

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Plenty of people take longer than that to engage first and move off.

Are you one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green ?

tossy

Tzardine wrote: »

I am not trying to troll but..

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Plenty of people take longer than that to engage first and move off.

Are you one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green ?

Exactly and won't someone think of the person on the other end of the text ? We can't wait that extra 5-8 seconds to find put who Sharon is riding or what we are having for dinner, we need to know NOW.

Oink

Tzardine wrote: »

I am not trying to troll but..

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Plenty of people take longer than that to engage first and move off.

Are you one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green ?

I dont like aggro drivers either but 5-8 seconds in traffic??? That's longer thsn most green lights for dogs sake!

corktina

5 to 8 seconds is a long time at the lights in fairness

alias no.9

Tzardine wrote: »

I am not trying to troll but..

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Plenty of people take longer than that to engage first and move off.

Are you one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green ?

That kind of delay is not trivial. More and more traffic lights use induction loops in the road to detect traffic movement, if they don't detect movement, they shorten the time they hold Green for.
Most of the cars in a short queue that should comfortably cleared on that Green now have to wait another full cycle of the lights, meanwhile more cars are joining the back of the queue and you're getting unnecessary congestion because of one ignorant driver at the front not prepared to move once Green comes on.

Are you the kind of driver who has no awareness of traffic around or the effects of your driving on the flow of traffic?

inforfun

Tzardine wrote: »

I am not trying to troll but..

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Plenty of people take longer than that to engage first and move off.

Are you one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green ?

The very first traffic light i run into in the morning isnt green for much longer than 10 seconds before it is red again for at least 2 minutes.

So that 5-8 second delay will most likely result in another 2 minute delay at that light.

bladespin

By not driving while she was texting the young lady is committing no offence as far as I can see, holding traffic for 8 seconds isn't against the law as far as I know (as long as she was stopped of course).

userod

I was caught over Xmas.

I was texting , the phone was down low beside the wheel, I was waiting to turn out onto a main road and a Gaurd on a motor bike came up beside me. He pulled me in and checked tax insurance etc, it was a rental car so everything else was fine. Said he wouldn't do me as I'd have to go to court.

The new law is excessive anyway I think.

colm_mcm

bladespin wrote: »

By not driving while she was texting the young lady is committing no offence as far as I can see, holding traffic for 8 seconds isn't against the law as far as I know (as long as she was stopped of course).

Unless you're parked, you're driving IMO.
Stopped at traffic lights is still driving. You still need to be observant of what's around you.

L-M

colm_mcm wrote: »

Unless you're parked, you're driving IMO.
Stopped at traffic lights is still driving. You still need to be observant of what's around you.

As evident by the fact the driver didn't notice the change in lights.

Chris_Heilong

Some drivers need to disconnect from their devices and live in the real world, its a problem with social interaction in society in general, how many times have you went out with friends and everyone at the table just keeps looking at their phone screens, this is especially true of driving when any lapse in attention could see an accident.

Comhrá

Originally Posted by Tzardine

I am not trying to troll but..

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Are you one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green ?

If you read my post properly you would see that she was in the lane beside me therefore she didn't delay me at all. Try to read posts properly before making ill-judged comments.

Also, no....... I'm not one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green

In fairness your post is ignorant and ill-informed.

endacl

Tzardine wrote: »

I am not trying to troll but..

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Plenty of people take longer than that to engage first and move off.

Are you one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green ?

I am. When people are driving, paying attention to their driving is their sole responsibility.

Tzardine

tippman1 wrote: »

If you read my post properly you would see that she was in the lane beside me therefore she didn't delay me at all. Try to read posts properly before making ill-judged comments.

Also, no....... I'm not one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green

In fairness your post is ignorant and ill-informed.

In fairness your OP reads that you have a problem with young lady drivers. Why did you not just say there was a driver beside you. Why the need to point out that she was a young lady.

And if the fact that she delayed others by 5-8 seconds was enough to annoy you (I decided to read your post properly and noticed you used an annoyed face) then I can only imaging the absolute rage that would overcome you if she had the audacity to delay you in your lane.

Comhrá

Tzardine wrote: »

In fairness your OP reads that you have a problem with young lady drivers. Why did you not just say there was a driver beside you. Why the need to point out that she was a young lady.

And if the fact that she delayed others by 5-8 seconds was enough to annoy you (I decided to read your post properly and noticed you used an annoyed face) then I can only imaging the absolute rage that would overcome you if she had the audacity to delay you in your lane.

You need to take a stroll outside in the fresh air for a little while.

Tzardine

tippman1 wrote: »

You need to take a stroll outside in the fresh air for a little while.

Maybe I will go for a drive.:rolleyes:

FunLover18

Tzardine wrote: »

I am not trying to troll but..

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Plenty of people take longer than that to engage first and move off.

Are you one of the drivers that beeps somebody if they are not doing 50kmh the second the light turns green ?

As has been pointed out 5-8 seconds in traffic is a very long time. After 3 I'd be giving the driver a toot of the horn.

Also if you're the first in line at traffic I was always taught that you should wait in first so as to get going quicker and not delay the traffic behind you. The time it takes to actually get going gives enough time for the person behind to get into gear.

Who the fúck takes 5-8 seconds to get into gear!?!? Unless they're a learner they shouldn't be allowed on the road.

Comhrá

Maybe I will go for a drive.

Don't be textin' at the lights now ...... I might be driving alongside you

pablo128

Tzardine wrote: »

In fairness your OP reads that you have a problem with young lady drivers. Why did you not just say there was a driver beside you. Why the need to point out that she was a young lady.

And if the fact that she delayed others by 5-8 seconds was enough to annoy you (I decided to read your post properly and noticed you used an annoyed face) then I can only imaging the absolute rage that would overcome you if she had the audacity to delay you in your lane.

In fairness, it usually is young ladies with their mush glued to their iphones. 3 seconds and they get a blast of the horn. Watch 'em jump!

The Royal Scam

userod wrote: »

The new law is excessive anyway I think.

It doesn't matter if it is or not. There seems to be zero enforcement of most traffic laws. Go to any other country and you rarely see drivers on their phone stopped or not. Sit in traffic or drive any motorway in this country and in my experience (approx 1400km a week) and more people are on their phone than not.
To me it is turning into a crazy situation and has to be contributing to our increased accident statistics.

corktina

It's not excessive, it isn't tough enough and it isn't enforced anything like enough. People die due to mobile phone use, it should be zero tolerance.

bazz26

As with most laws in this country, we are great at introducing them but don't have enough enforcement.

Imo these people know they are not supposed to be on the phone or texting while behind the wheel but do it because they know there is a very small chance of being caught. More enforcement is needed and normally the only way to get the message across to dense people is to take their money off them via on the spot fines.

Another thing that amazes me is the amount of people out there who have no problem spending thousands on cars yet will not spend a penny on a relatively cheap hands free kit.

userod

corktina wrote: »

It's not excessive, it isn't tough enough and it isn't enforced anything like enough. People die due to mobile phone use, it should be zero tolerance.

I'm not encouraging dangerous use of the mobile phone or anything. But in all fairness I don't think anyone has died by a person using their phone in bumper to bumper traffic.The punishment should consider the circumstances I think. And that is why I think the current punishment is excessive (In certain cases).

The Royal Scam

userod wrote: »

I'm not encouraging dangerous use of the mobile phone or anything. But in all fairness I don't think anyone has died by a person using their phone in bumper to bumper traffic.

Corktina is right it should be zero tolerance, once you allow the irish any leeway , the automatically presume "Ara sure it will be grand"
I cannot belive the amount of times I am on the motorway and while approaching a car doing 100 kmh in the inside lane, when I overtake , 9 times out of 10 they will be browsing or on facebook

Alun

bazz26 wrote: »

Another thing that amazes me is the amount of people out there who have no problem spending thousands on cars yet will not spend a penny on a relatively cheap hands free kit.

You'd be hard pushed to buy a new car these days without a built in hands free kit to be honest, even lower range cars. Although I even see very high end cars that absolutely 100% have them with drivers holding phones to their ears, so who knows. Maybe they're just too stupid to work out how to use it?

Dionysius2

The Royal Scam wrote: »

Corktina is right it should be zero tolerance, once you allow the irish any leeway , the automatically presume "Ara sure it will be grand"

Too bloody true. We must face up to the fact that the Irish do not accept regulation from any quarter. In Ireland, once regulation has been enacted, the attitude adopted in response is to lampoon the enforcer and find a way to avoid compliance. Having worked abroad for many years, I noted that the public attitude to compliance regulation was markedly different......"it's the law....this we must do". My dear departed Dad observed to me once that "the 800 years of colonialism bred into us a strand of behaviour devoted to resistance to anything....A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G.....that the 'Big House' sought to impose upon us especially if there were sanctions attached". Over many years, the wisdom of that remark has grown for me.:)

corktina

Alun wrote: »

You'd be hard pushed to buy a new car these days without a built in hands free kit to be honest, even lower range cars. Although I even see very high end cars that absolutely 100% have them with drivers holding phones to their ears, so who knows. Maybe they're just too stupid to work out how to use it?

that's just not true. Basic Focus doesn't have it. You have to go up a model to get it

colm_mcm

On the golf you have to get the technology pack (which is free at the mo but normally €1k)
Not standard on auris
Standard on nissan pulsar
Standard on kia ceed
Not standard on Hyundai i30
Standard on seat Leon
Not standard on a Skoda Octavia

goz83

Yeah but a kit is cheap to install.

However, it wouldn't solve the issue imo. Most people are texting, or browsing. Ironic thing here, is that they do this to avoid getting caught, even though it is FAR more dangerous than holding the phone and talking.

bladespin

colm_mcm wrote:

Unless you're parked, you're driving IMO. Stopped at traffic lights is still driving. You still need to be observant of what's around you.

Maybe, but I don't see how you're unsafe while stopped, the law is all to do with driving safely.

Reg'stoy

bladespin wrote: »

Maybe, but I don't see how you're unsafe while stopped, the law is all to do with driving safely.

Where do you put the phone, do you stop mid sentence and wait till the next set of lights.

No, the phone will be put in between the legs or the passenger seat and continue to distract them as they either worry about the phone or listen out for a reply.

Best option is to avoid having it within hands reach.

RoadhouseBlues

I was on a bus to Sligo bout 2 months ago, and the driver spent the whole time texting. That's dangerous with a busload of people. I was going to say something but didn't want to get thrown off. It was a private bus operator not Bus Eireann.

FunLover18

RoadhouseBlues wrote:

I was on a bus to Sligo bout 2 months ago, and the driver spent the whole time texting. That's dangerous with a busload of people. I was going to say something but didn't want to get thrown off. It was a private bus operator not Bus Eireann.

Should've called the gards or taken a video and taken it to them. He's endangering the lives of his passengers.

RoadhouseBlues

FunLover18 wrote: »

Should've called the gards or taken a video and taken it to them. He's endangering the lives of his passengers.

You are right of course. I actually never thought of taking a video. I was very very tempted to ring the gards but I didn't in the end. He was filling in for the regular driver. If it ever happened again though I wouldn't hesitate.

JPF82

Reg'stoy wrote: »

Where do you put the phone, do you stop mid sentence and wait till the next set of lights.

No, the phone will be put in between the legs or the passenger seat and continue to distract them as they either worry about the phone or listen out for a reply.

Best option is to avoid having it within hands reach.

In addition, when the person isn't paying attention while stopped at the lights they are not observing what is going on around them and making a decision about pulling away safely. They are looking at the phone, here a beep of a car horn, look up all flustered realising the light is green and pull away in a hurry without looking out for a pedestrian or cyclist crossing the road or some other such scenario.

highdef

Tzardine wrote: »

Delaying you by 5-8 SECONDS. ! It's hardly the end of the world.

Plenty of people take longer than that to engage first and move off.

Apart from the delay caused by gob****es texting on their phones at the traffic lights, I have noticed that when the car(s) behind honk their horn to tell them to get a move on, they usually just hit the gas without first looking around to see what is around them. Assuming that they have spent the majority of the red light duration looking down onto their phone instead of continuing to observe what is happening around, they are essentially driving off blind.

For all the driver knows, a small child could be standing directly in front of the car when the driver pulls off with no knowledge of their surroundings. And that is definitely not an unlikely scenario.

JPF82 - great minds think alike!