Driving while on phone

madmac187

Hello all, I wasn’t driving while on the phone but had phone in hand as it fell on floor of van at lights, just a question, to get fined by guards do they have to stop you? Guarda van pulled up beside me, just wondered is all.

Micky 32

Nothing to worry about.

kjbsrah1

The offence is driving while HOLDING a mobile phone but as the Garda did not stop you and get your details I would not worry.

ED E

kjbsrah1 wrote: »

The offence is driving while HOLDING a mobile phone but as the Garda did not stop you and get your details I would not worry.

Note it doesn't just mean your hands, any body part counts. Knee, shoulder etc.

madmac187

Thanks guys I moreso was wondering do they have to stop you to fine you is all.

Slippin Jimmy

madmac187 wrote: »

Thanks guys I moreso was wondering do they have to stop you to fine you is all.

With any driving offence, using your mobile or speeding, they will always stop you. Looks like they weren't bothered today

highdef

I wouldn't worry at all seeing as you were a passenger. You can play with your phone all you want as a passenger. Could've been a different story had you been driving the vehicle but as you've already stated, you weren't driving it.

Sexual Chocolate

Was emergency legislation ran through the Dail one night a while back with regards to using a phone even when it's in a phone holder or am I mistaking ?

Grab All Association

You’re fine. The whole thing is nonsense bs but it’s not changing any time soon.

I always ask the RSA to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven someone lost their live in Ireland due to themselves or others on a mobile phone. Verdicts of death from the coroners court and convictions etc, they can’t. There’s actually only one recorded incident from 2005. This legislation came in back in 2002 because of cases in the USA, UK etc.

They still claim it’s saving lives of a problem that never existed.

3rdDegree

Grab All Association wrote: »

You’re fine. The whole thing is nonsense bs but it’s not changing any time soon.

I always ask the RSA to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven someone lost their live in Ireland due to themselves or others on a mobile phone. Verdicts of death from the coroners court and convictions etc, they can’t. There’s actually only one recorded incident from 2005. This legislation came in back in 2002 because of cases in the USA, UK etc.

They still claim it’s saving lives of a problem that never existed.

Am I reading this right? Are you really saying that using a mobile phone while driving is not dangerous?

dsmythy

3rdDegree wrote: »

Am I reading this right? Are you really saying that using a mobile phone while driving is not dangerous?

Must be looking for an eye witness or something. What on earth.

Guy:Incognito

Grab All Association wrote: »

You’re fine. The whole thing is nonsense bs but it’s not changing any time soon.

I always ask the RSA to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven someone lost their live in Ireland due to themselves or others on a mobile phone. Verdicts of death from the coroners court and convictions etc, they can’t. There’s actually only one recorded incident from 2005. This legislation came in back in 2002 because of cases in the USA, UK etc.

They still claim it’s saving lives of a problem that never existed.

Swerving all over the road then driving off completely unaware of carnage left in your wake as someone else crashes trying to avoid you wont go down as a mobile related crash.......

I've come across people drifting out of lanes on the motorways plenty of times, oblivious to other people having to brake while on their phones.

fricatus

Grab All Association wrote: »

You’re fine. The whole thing is nonsense bs but it’s not changing any time soon.

I always ask the RSA to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven someone lost their live in Ireland due to themselves or others on a mobile phone. Verdicts of death from the coroners court and convictions etc, they can’t. There’s actually only one recorded incident from 2005. This legislation came in back in 2002 because of cases in the USA, UK etc.

They still claim it’s saving lives of a problem that never existed.

Well I wanted to sell toys with lead-based paint on them, but wasn’t allowed, because of health and safety “regulations”. :rolleyes: The whole thing is nonsense bs but it’s not changing any time soon.

I always ask the NSAI to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven a child died from lead poisoning in Ireland. Verdicts of death from the coroners court and convictions etc, they can’t. There’s actually only one recorded incident from 1893. This legislation came in back in 1972 because of cases in the USA, UK etc.

They still claim it’s saving lives of a problem that never existed.

Duckjob

Grab All Association wrote: »

You’re fine. The whole thing is nonsense bs but it’s not changing any time soon.

I always ask the RSA to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven someone lost their live in Ireland due to themselves or others on a mobile phone. Verdicts of death from the coroners court and convictions etc, they can’t. There’s actually only one recorded incident from 2005. This legislation came in back in 2002 because of cases in the USA, UK etc.

They still claim it’s saving lives of a problem that never existed.

Hand in your licence. Please.

CrankyHaus

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Was emergency legislation ran through the Dail one night a while back with regards to using a phone even when it's in a phone holder or am I mistaking ?

Yes, in 2014. It amended the 2006 Act to ban texting or reading texts at the wheel, regardless of whether the mobile was held or not, which was the pre-existing prohibition.

Qelres.

Why don't they park up at junctions and roundabouts and do offenders

1000 a pop or whatever it is

I hate these yappers that just can't put the fone down

Qelres.

Grab All Association wrote: »

You’re fine. The whole thing is nonsense bs but it’s not changing any time soon.

I always ask the RSA to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven someone lost their live in Ireland due to themselves or others on a mobile phone. Verdicts of death from the coroners court and convictions etc, they can’t. There’s actually only one recorded incident from 2005. This legislation came in back in 2002 because of cases in the USA, UK etc.

They still claim it’s saving lives of a problem that never existed.

Well that's not true

I remember at leat one inquest where drivers were on the phone , the other person gave evidence about the call

Grab All Association

It’s speed, dangerous manoeuvres and drink driving that’s actually killing people on our roads. I’d rather see AGS tackling this than pulling a person over just because they are on their mobile phone. I live near a rural pub and you see farmers getting in their 4x4 swerving all over the road. There’s also a school nearby with no pedestrian crossing. Cars speed through the village all day and nothing is done about it. So many crashes (some fatal) have happened on this stretch of road in the past 30 years.

Fann Linn

Grab All Association wrote: »

It’s speed, dangerous manoeuvres and drink driving that’s actually killing people on our roads. I’d rather see AGS tackling this than pulling a person over just because they are on their mobile phone. I live near a rural pub and you see farmers getting in their 4x4 swerving all over the road. There’s also a school nearby with no pedestrian crossing. Cars speed through the village all day and nothing is done about it. So many crashes (some fatal) have happened on this stretch of road in the past 30 years.

Equally as easy to tackle all of the above plus the mobile phone offence.

mikeecho

CrankyHaus wrote: »

Sexual Chocolate wrote: »

Was emergency legislation ran through the Dail one night a while back with regards to using a phone even when it's in a phone holder or am I mistaking ?

Yes, in 2014. It amended the 2006 Act to ban texting or reading texts at the wheel, regardless of whether the mobile was held or not, which was the pre-existing prohibition.

It however didn't include sending/reading Facebook messenger ,WhatsApp , etc

Completely unworkable, and thus not enforced.

The only phone law that is (somewhat) enforced is the holding of a mobile phone.

biko

madmac187 wrote: »

Hello all, I wasn’t driving while on the phone but had phone in hand as it fell on floor of van at lights,

Then naming the thread "Driving while on phone" is a bit confusing.

Friend of mine got a ticket a while back for being on his phone while driving. Trouble was, he wasn't actually driving, he was pulled into a parking space but the Garda said that once the engine is running it's an offence to be on your phone. Case got thrown out in the end.

biko

biko wrote: »

madmac187 wrote: »

Hello all, I wasn’t driving while on the phone but had phone in hand as it fell on floor of van at lights,

Then naming the thread "Driving while on phone" is a bit confusing.

I interpreted that as he wasn't talking or texting and that he was just holding it like you'd hold an ice cream cone or a drink.

bucketybuck

I always ask the RSA to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven someone lost their live in Ireland due to themselves or others on a mobile phone.

Sounds like those pompous little nits you see on the internet all the time. "Show me 5 examples of the very specific thing I said or else you are wrong, and furthermore..." :rolleyes:

Regardless, anybody who thinks mobile phone use while driving isn't a problem, who thinks it is all nonsense BS, that person is blind to reality.

Rodin

Doesn't set a good example that Gardaí are allowed to use theirs while driving. One rule for one....

ted1

kjbsrah1 wrote: »

The offence is driving while HOLDING a mobile phone but as the Garda did not stop you and get your details I would not worry.

It’s on your person. As opposed to just holding

ted1

Grab All Association wrote: »

You’re fine. The whole thing is nonsense bs but it’s not changing any time soon.

I always ask the RSA to produce a minimum of 5 cases where it was proven someone lost their live in Ireland due to themselves or others on a mobile phone. Verdicts of death from the coroners court and convictions etc, they can’t. There’s actually only one recorded incident from 2005. This legislation came in back in 2002 because of cases in the USA, UK etc.

They still claim it’s saving lives of a problem that never existed.

You are clearly an idiot.....and living in denial.

kirving

bucketybuck wrote: »

Sounds like those pompous little nits you see on the internet all the time. "Show me 5 examples of the very specific thing I said or else you are wrong, and furthermore..." :rolleyes:

Regardless, anybody who thinks mobile phone use while driving isn't a problem, who thinks it is all nonsense BS, that person is blind to reality.

Mobile phones are obviously a dangerous distraction which should be banned behind the wheel.

However, there's nothing wrong with the principle of asking for some evidence to justify a law against (or for) something. That of course can be a driving simulator or whatever. We don't need to wait for people to die to prove it's dangerous.

The RSA have a history of not providing raw data or even statistics that don't support their agenda. That unscientific way of forming our road laws should be challenged.

GreeBo

Duckjob wrote: »

Hand in your licence. Please.

and thats your licence to live btw, not just your driving licence.

Alun

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Mobile phones are obviously a dangerous distraction which should be banned behind the wheel.

However, there's nothing wrong with the principle of asking for some evidence to justify a law against (or for) something. That of course can be a driving simulator or whatever. We don't need to wait for people to die to prove it's dangerous.

There's been plenty of research done on this in the UK, using driving simulators and eye monitoring to prove how distracting it is. No need for the RSA to duplicate this when TRL, the UK's Transport Research Lab has already done it.

Rodin

OSI wrote: »

They should never be allowed speed, run red lights or break any traffics laws either. I'm sure all the people that are waiting on the Garda to respond to a crime in progress will understand it's for the greater good of avoiding hypocrisy that they had to wait while the Gard's were stuck in traffic.

Are Gardaí immune from the effects on concentration of handling a phone? What's wrong with hands free? Or radios?

And if the Gardaí only broke the rules of the road in an emergency we probably wouldn't mind.

madmac187

madmac187 wrote: »

Hello all, I wasn’t driving while on the phone but had phone in hand as it fell on floor of van at lights, just a question, to get fined by guards do they have to stop you? Guarda van pulled up beside me, just wondered is all.

I was curious about this myself recently so went digging. You can't interact with your phone whatsoever while driving. Even while stopped in traffic. The gardaí can fine you for using it while at a red light. Even if it is mounted. Whatever you need to do with it (satnav, taxi app, start a call) should be done before you have set off. You can use the hands-free to talk on the phone, but you mustn't interact with the phone to take the call unless you are pulled in. You can take off again once the call has started. I'm not arsed finding the source again but that's the conclusion I came to.

begbysback

It used to be seen as “On the phone whilst driving” now it seems we spend so much time on the phone it’s considered “Driving whilst on the phone”

Sent from iPhone

kirving

Alun wrote: »

There's been plenty of research done on this in the UK, using driving simulators and eye monitoring to prove how distracting it is. No need for the RSA to duplicate this when TRL, the UK's Transport Research Lab has already done it.

Agreed, of course there's no need to duplicate it.

I meant more generally in the second part of my post. We should absolutely be challenging the introduction of legislation (on any topic) without satisfactory evidence. Some politicians and quangos mistake more regulation for progress.

ie: lowering drink driving limits catches people the following morning and boots detection rates. It doesn't solve the problem of young lads rolling a car with 4 of their makes at 3am on a backroad.


Equally, "holding a mobile phone" and the rule on texting is a fudge of a law that lets people scroll Facebook in a holder, but can catch people who lift a ringing phone to silence it.

Comhrá

OSI wrote: »

They should never be allowed speed, run red lights or break any traffics laws either. I'm sure all the people that are waiting on the Garda to respond to a crime in progress will understand it's for the greater good of avoiding hypocrisy that they had to wait while the Gard's were stuck in traffic.

Not sure what point you're trying to make. A garda driving a car with one hand on the wheel and a phone to his/her ear while trying to conduct their business has to be creating as much of a hazard due to distraction as anyone else.

wonski

Comhra wrote: »

Not sure what point you're trying to make. A garda driving a car with one hand on the wheel and a phone to his/her ear while trying to conduct their business has to be creating as much of a hazard due to distraction as anyone else.

Yet all the drivers I pass that are on the phone are not Garda, strange. Mostly van drivers, truck drivers, women, men.... Pretty much everyone.

Usually driving all over the place and at random speeds. I don't mine the fines, the more the better

bucketybuck

Kevin Irving wrote: »

We don't need to wait for people to die to prove it's dangerous.

Except that according to post #9, its seems we actually do.