On the phone while driving?

The amount of people I see on the phone every day is shocking; I commute on my bike so I filter pass lots of cars. On the phone, fixing make-up, even reading the fcuking paper!!!

I often wonder where these people are, because when threads like this pop up everybody always states they never engage in these behaviours.

I voted 'I do it all the time, nothing wrong with it'

But I don't believe there's nothing wrong with it.

I do it, guilty.
Sending texts increases your risks of crashing.
Anything that distracts you is bad.

IMO drinking coffee is probably worse than talking on the phone, is for me anyway.

My name is URL wrote: »

Are they exempt from the hazards too? There's no need for them to be on the (handheld) phone while driving. They, more than anyone else should have handsfree kits installed in their vayhickles.

They, more than anyone else, are likely to have done advanced driving courses. They are also likely to see other motorists around them driving in a much slower and more predictable manner, so I'd say the hazards are less than other drivers.

Pottler wrote: »

Filter??? As in weave unpredictably between cars bumping into mirrors? You sir are one reason we need hands free kits in the first place, bicyclists, just one more thing to run over by mistake.. Can bicyclyiststs use a phone while riding??? Does it not distract them??? Someone dull will be along in a minute to quote the law.

I was going to say you can't miss me as I ride big bikes, headlight always on, loud pipe, then I thought about all the times I heard "sorry mate I didn't see you.

I don't use one myself, but you can get a hands free fitted into a helmet. Fcuk I don't even get any music to listen to. Apart from when I'm on the vespa, my other bike range from 400cc-650cc, they give me enough power to get away from anyone I see on a phone, doing make-up etc

Pottler wrote: »

Almost all true, apart from the bit after "They, ...

I'm not saying it's safe for them to do it, but are you saying that you don't notice other drivers driving more carefully when the cops are around? If so, surely it must be statistically safer for them to do it.

I use my phone, but always with a bluetooth ear piece, so easy and only cost about €20, my phone car charger charges the ear piece so hardly any clutter in the car.

Just switch on blue tooth as i walk to the car, and flick on the ear piece before the seatbelt goes on, the phone and the earpiece pair automatically. It only takes seconds....therefore i have zero sympathy for people who get done for use of mobile phone.

I believe the Guards should also be bound to this particular rule at least, its proven that it is unsafe. We all hear the ad about being 5 times more likely to be in an accident when using a phone. Being on duty doesnt make it acceptable. Its their job to assist with the health and safety of the public. They are putting themselves and other road users at risk

I always do this.

Checking the news, e-mail, reading websites etc... while in traffic.

Very rarely text while actually moving, I can see how it could easily cause a crash.

I cannot understand people who think that they are not breaking the law by Holding the Phone in their Hand and Think its ok because its on Loudspeaker.
C'mon get with programme, a twenty euro bluetooth earpiece is a lot cheaper than the fines and the penalty points.

1) Garda vehicles are not fitted with handsfree kits, they should be but they aren't so maybe complain to Mr. Shatter about that one?

2) There are some calls that Gardai would prefer not to broadcast all over Tetra and therefore phone the info rather than radio it (my OH has a Tetra unit that broadcasts the entire Division at once on it (though i'm fairly sure he can select just his own station he seems to have it on county wide all the time) would you want sensitive info broadcast to 20+ stations 100+ Gardai

3) I've never actually messed with a Tetra radio but the old radio required you to hold down a button to talk (and keep holding while broadcasting) at least the phone doesnt need that

4) Most Gardai are actually trained to a higher level of driving than your average Joe Soap. (The Chiefs permission is gone the way of the Dodo (around here anyway))

On topic
I have a Parrot CK3200 in my car which activates automatically when i turn on the engine & have auto answer set up for the phone when on handsfree
Hubby has a snazzier version in his car but same set up so we only use handsfree when driving my phone is generally in the handbag on the floor, on silent so i don't get distracted by texts