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8,000 UK drivers caught using mobile phones

  • 23-01-2017 08:36AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,418 ✭✭✭


    In a week long campaign almost 8,000 drivers were caught for mobile phone use while driving a car. And law is going to get tougher on them. Penalty going from £100 to £200 and penalty points from 3 to 6.

    I think such a crackdown is long overdue here, too, and the numbers show that it is rampant.

    Link here


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,824 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    I've love to see similar enforcement in Ireland.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,418 ✭✭✭CalamariFritti


    I wouldn't want to weigh one thing up against another. No insurance is worse of course, but that doesn't mean they should turn a blind eye on mobile phone use.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    I'd rather they spent that time chasing people with no insurance.
    Having watched far too much "Road Wars" style television - there is a strong correlation between those who flaunt a law and flaunting all laws - especially as laws are actively enforced. Stop 'em for the mobile - hit 'em with the no tax, NCT, insurance, no seatbelt, missing lights, bald tyres...
    Wishful thinking! :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    I would rather be hit by somebody on a phone than somebody without insurance. If they are setting up checkpoints for catching people on phones then they can do the same for insurance.
    But in the case your demise as a result of a collision - which one is most likely to have done the deed?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,378 ✭✭✭✭Tom Mann Centuria


    I'm sure there is cross over between the uninsured and phone users, don't suppose they are mutually exclusive groups.

    I'd hope that any driver stopped for using a phone might be asked to show his insurance, if so, you're killing two birds with one stone.

    Oh well, give me an easy life and a peaceful death.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,418 ✭✭✭CalamariFritti


    I think just because one thing is worse than another doesn't mean we shouldn't care about the other.
    That's like saying until there isn't a single unresolved murder guards shouldn't be looking at break ins at all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    The amount of times I have encountered drivers on the motorway with their phones at their ears or even worse, surreptitiously reading a phone below the dash, is truly astounding. Taking your eyes off the road for more than a split record is perilous, yet I've seen drivers cast their eyes downwards for multiple seconds. Amazing that there hasn't been any major incidents yet.


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47,393 ✭✭✭✭Zaph


    Twice in the last week or so I've seen people texting while on the M50. In both cases their driving was so slow and erratic that it looked like it was only a matter of time before they were going to have an accident. What sort of simpleton do you have to be to think that is OK to text while driving on the busiest road in the country? Or any road? Clearly they have little regard for other peoples' safety, but you'd imagine that there'd be at least a hint of a self preservation instinct that would kick in and tell them that they were being complete and utter morons.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    An uninsured driver is potentially lethal, a driver on the phone is actually lethal


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,560 ✭✭✭K.Flyer


    The amount of people I see in Dublin city almost every day driving while holding their phone to their ear or eyes looking down at it is astounding.
    No enforcement = No deterrent.

    A few lads zipping around the place on unmarked motorbikes like this fella is what is needed.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,493 ✭✭✭Wheety


    Yeah, it's shocking the amount of people on their phones while driving. Saw a guy driving slowly on the N4 yesterday. As I passed him he was looking down at his phone in his lap. Idiots.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,334 ✭✭✭Comhrá


    As long as it's a paltry €60 fine +3 points, the situation will remain unchanged.
    4 penalty points and a €175 fine might increase awareness a little.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    :confused:

    Put it this way, how many times a day do you have to take corrective action against the asshole who is on the phone as opposed to the asshole who is uninsured?

    I heard some eejit the radio yesterday admitting to texting and driving as if it was just a wee bad habit, think it was that Navan eejit.

    Eejit.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 761 ✭✭✭GerryDerpy


    With that amount of drivers using phones and none of them dying, seems to be a safe thing to do.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭GrumpyMe


    tippman1 wrote: »
    As long as it's a paltry €60 fine +3 points, the situation will remain unchanged.
    4 penalty points and a €175 fine might increase awareness a little.
    Point - yes I agree
    Fines should be pro rata to income.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,824 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    Balls to that, just because somebody earns less than me they get a lesser fine. No dice!

    There would/should be a minimum amount certainly (say €150), but it should be allowed to be upped for someone who €150 is peanuts to them.

    And if your car & phone both have bluetooth hands free technology available, it's €500


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,334 ✭✭✭Comhrá


    GerryDerpy wrote: »
    With that amount of drivers using phones and none of them dying, seems to be a safe thing to do.

    The thing is, we never hear the myriad reasons for fatal crashes, the one-vehicle accident striking a tree, wall etc. How many young people have been killed while texting, doing Facebook etc. while driving?

    We never hear figures or inquest results for the vast majority of these mysterious fatal accidents. I suspect the phones cause a lot more fatal crashes than we hear about.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,824 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    tippman1 wrote: »
    T
    We never hear figures or inquest results for the vast majority of these mysterious fatal accidents. I suspect the phones cause a lot more fatal crashes than we hear about.

    And surely there would be some involved in crashes, that might not even admit to looking at their phone, as unless making/receiving calls/texts, it would be hard enough to prove.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,679 ✭✭✭✭Samuel T. Cogley


    The last part of that clip is instructive on why you shouldn't be using a phone even when stopped.

    Anyone caught using a mobile when driving should be required to have software on their phone that deactivates it once the phone is moving faster than 10KPH. Any tampering with that software should result in the car being seized. As for insurance, no need for checkpoints; a proper ANPR network on the motorways.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,334 ✭✭✭Comhrá


    At the end of the day there isn't any real will from the Government to tackle phone use at the wheel because it doesn't carry the emotional weight or moral outrage of drink driving or speeding.

    Being caught using a phone at the wheel isn't considered socially embarrassing like being done for drink-driving or driving without insurance, hence the lack of urgency dealing with it.....I've even seen Gardai driving while using their phones so no big deal really. That's the reality of the situation. It's considered a low-priority driving offence.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,824 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    Anyone caught using a mobile when driving should be required to have software on their phone that deactivates it once the phone is moving faster than 10KPH.

    What if they are on the bus, or the train, or in a taxi, or just not driving?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,095 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Step1: Garda takes phone from offender
    Step2: Garda calls VM
    Step3: Garda records "This is Garda X and this number has been confiscated under the RTA of 2017"
    Step4: Garda pockets the SIM for 2wks and issues FCPN.

    The embarrassment will be 100x more effective than the tiny fine.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,095 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    The last part of that clip is instructive on why you shouldn't be using a phone even when stopped.

    Anyone caught using a mobile when driving should be required to have software on their phone that deactivates it once the phone is moving faster than 10KPH. Any tampering with that software should result in the car being seized. As for insurance, no need for checkpoints; a proper ANPR network on the motorways.
    What if they are on the bus, or the train, or in a taxi, or just not driving?

    Exactly, that doesnt work. You cant fix this in software, you need enforcement. Make an example of the truckers that do it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,201 ✭✭✭languagenerd


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    I would rather be hit by somebody on a phone than somebody without insurance. If they are setting up checkpoints for catching people on phones then they can do the same for insurance.

    But would the 'somebody on the phone' even have hit you if they weren't on the phone?

    It's rampant these days. I think people stopped for a while, with hands-free sets etc, but smartphones and unlimited data have changed that again. People are driving around with their eyes off the roads for extended periods of time with no clue what's in front of them. They think it's fine when they're driving cause they're only "quickly checking something" or "just changing the music", but it usually means looking away from the road for far too long when you're operating heavy machinery at 100kmh. A truck driver in England crashed into and killed an entire family on a motorway recently enough because he was scrolling through music playlists on his phone trying to pick a song... But everyone thinks it couldn't happen to them. We have to stop talking about it like it's just a silly bad habit/minor thing we're all guilty of and realise how selfish and dangerous it is!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    tippman1 wrote: »
    At the end of the day there isn't any real will from the Government to tackle phone use at the wheel because it doesn't carry the emotional weight or moral outrage of drink driving or speeding.

    Being caught using a phone at the wheel isn't considered socially embarrassing like being done for drink-driving or driving without insurance, hence the lack of urgency dealing with it.....I've even seen Gardai driving while using their phones so no big deal really. That's the reality of the situation. It's considered a low-priority driving offence.

    Gardai are exempt from the RTA in the course of their duties. Would be pretty difficult to operate as a Garda if you had to pull over every time to use your Tetra radio (Which by in large looks identical to a mobile phone)

    Its a school yard response to say 'But they can do it...', yes they can, because its an integral part of their work which usually deals with fairly pressing situations. Calling your missus to ask about the roast or follow up on a sale contact can wait. I've yet to find someone, outside of perhaps a doctor, who can give a justifiable reason as to why they need to drive and have a phone call at the same time without hands-free.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 51,642 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    Surely this issue can be solved by technology. Prevention should be better than cure.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,824 ✭✭✭✭AndyBoBandy


    bazz26 wrote: »
    Surely this issue can be solved by technology. Prevention should be better than cure.

    They are working on it though its a more longer term solution


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    bazz26 wrote: »
    Surely this issue can be solved by technology. Prevention should be better than cure.

    Loads of problems with it though.

    What if you are driving someone to a hospital and need to keep in contact with 112? Or if you are involved in an accident, and the phone doesn't unlock due to some error? What if you have permission to use a phone while driving or its part of your job?

    Lots of overhead there.

    They should publish a list of drivers found using their phones in a similar way they post tax evaders. Not exactly a badge of honor to be driving what is effectively a weapon when you are too busy to care for other road users. Its really selfish. If someone bumps into you on the street because they are too busy texting, its annoying and frustrating. Frankly, its rude and disrespectful. In a car, they are doing the same thing, except they could actually kill someone.

    Ironically, 3G / GPRS / Edge don't work very well over 120km/h due to their technical specs, so if you don't live in a 4G location, you won't have much luck posting on facebook at higher speeds. I doubt the RSA will endorse that one though :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    tippman1 wrote: »
    Being caught using a phone at the wheel isn't considered socially embarrassing like being done for drink-driving or driving without insurance, hence the lack of urgency dealing with it.....

    It's time to make it socially embarrassing. I've gotten out of cars where the driver was constantly on their phone. I didn't feel safe and didn't want to be in the car with them.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,334 ✭✭✭Comhrá


    ironclaw wrote: »
    Gardai are exempt from the RTA in the course of their duties. Would be pretty difficult to operate as a Garda if you had to pull over every time to use your Tetra radio (Which by in large looks identical to a mobile phone)

    I understand they are indeed exempt, but aren't they just as big a danger to other road-users while they drive while using their phones as any other lay person? I'm sure their attention and reaction times are no different to anyone else? Don't they have blue tooth in their Garda cars?

    This situation is kind of hypocritical, the Gardai using their phones while driving.... if they're dealing with an emergency, and holding their phones - maybe driving with a bit of urgency - aren't they as much of a danger to other road-users as Joe Bloggs or anyone else?


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