Texting whilst driving?

[Wookee]

I fully accept that. But how about
"Mike Tango 45, white van part index yankee delta zero four eight now northbound Seamer road passing tesco, straight through red light now left into unknown road trying to see name of road I think it leads towards whitby not sure about that speed in excess of six zero now right into unknown road collision stationary car continuing now right again... etc etc etc.

All I would take out of that is "Northbound Seamer Road passing Tesco" if I were listening to the transmission in another car. If I were transmitting that as a single crewed driver I wouldn't be saying half the waffle in a single message and I would be using the stalk mounted on the steering column so as not to take my hands off the wheel. Don't forget that a big part of our training is to give commentary for our drives, which are typically 40 minutes long.

 

[Garry Edwards]

All I would take out of that is "Northbound Seamer Road passing Tesco" if I were listening to the transmission in another car. If I were transmitting that as a single crewed driver I wouldn't be saying half the waffle in a single message and I would be using the stalk mounted on the steering column so as not to take my hands off the wheel. Don't forget that a big part of our training is to give commentary for our drives, which are typically 40 minutes long.

I fully accept that.

All that I'm saying is that a police officer in that situation does need to think about what is happening, update colleagues and drive, perhaps at higher speeds than normal, all at the same time. Logic says that, regardless of his level of training or experience, this MUST affect the standard of driving.

Obviously a highly experienced, well trained driver will be affected less than many other people, but it's inevitable that ALL distractions will have some effect.

Personally, even though I have hands free, I never use the phone when driving. I have done in the past, but have come to realise that it's the wrong thing to do.
Many years ago, when I first started my business and needed to supplement my income, I worked as a taxi driver. I used the twoway whilst driving all the time, and sometimes there were emergencies and I had to give a running commentary to police, or talk to a hospital that I was en route to at high speed, so I do have some experience

 

[Wookee]

I fully accept that.

All that I'm saying is that a police officer in that situation does need to think about what is happening, update colleagues and drive, perhaps at higher speeds than normal, all at the same time. Logic says that, regardless of his level of training or experience, this MUST affect the standard of driving.

Obviously a highly experienced, well trained driver will be affected less than many other people, but it's inevitable that ALL distractions will have some effect.

There is a notable difference though: This is a driving situation so the main concentration is on that. All I am doing is 'saying what I'm seeing'. What I'm not doing is having a chat about how little Johnny did at school today and thinking about that ie being distracted. In fact, I am not really even listening to anything as what is coming over the radio is effectively repeating what I am saying.

This is very different to what I said earlier about driving my own car at road legal speeds and having a chat with her indoors. I was clearly distracted as I had no recollection of the journeys ie my concentration was elsewhere. I'm still trained and experienced.

 

[scott199]

There is a notable difference though: This is a driving situation so the main concentration is on that. All I am doing is 'saying what I'm seeing'. What I'm not doing is having a chat about how little Johnny did at school today and thinking about that ie being distracted. In fact, I am not really even listening to anything as what is coming over the radio is effectively repeating what I am saying.

This is very different to what I said earlier about driving my own car at road legal speeds and having a chat with her indoors. I was clearly distracted as I had no recollection of the journeys ie my concentration was elsewhere. I'm still trained and experienced.

i have to admit, this is a perfect example.

i have on many occasions drove down the road on hands free, got to a roundabout and thought "where am i" and this is on roads i drive everyday, its takes a second or two to recall the the area and all's good again, but does go to show how easy our minds wonder.

but to be fair i do use it as an excuse not to talk to those indoors

so i fully agree with this,

 

[Major Eazy]

On a side note, it is still legal to use a CB isn't it.?

What's the difference.?

Isn't CBs they heyday of the 1970's and 1980's or something like that? As a kid, I used to watch US movies and television shows where you would see characters using CBs, even thought you are using one hand to hold the mic, you're not fully in control, but surely in those days, we all weren't very much into health and safey? You would only need a hardhat if working on a building site, and that's all. For a F1 racing driver, just overalls and leather helmet during the 1950s. etc., etc.,

Nowadays, we're more and more worried about health and safey, at a building site, it's more and more kit, not just the hardhat, but it's extras, like goggles, gloves, hi-vis vests, etc., for F1, it's now layers and layers of fireproof clothes, full helmet, that even includes this kit at the back lock it to the car, etc., etc., and no use of mobile phones, both hands on the wheel and focus!

Everything changes over time.

Assuming if say mobile phones did not happen, and in today's modern age, if we were still using CBs like the 1970s, I would guess it is likey that the law would changed and that CBs would be illegal today.

On a side note, assuming if technology advanced very fast and we have those modern-day mobile phones in the 1970's, chances are nobody would have thought of making using them while driving illegal. If we had something like iPhone in the 1970s, we would have been using them freely while driving.

The difference is time, over time laws have changed, even if some laws slipped through and didn't get a chance to be updated. CBs in 1970s fine, mobile phone in 2010s illegal, for all you know, it could have been mobile phones in the 1970s fine or CBs in teh 2010s illegal.

That's just my view, that the different is time.

 

[big soft moose]

Remember that tit who was caught last year playing a driving game on his ipad while driving along

bottom line some people are morons ,and this sort of campaign never reaches those its needs to because they think they know better (because they are morons) , those who are shocked or affected by this probably wouldnt text while driving anyway.

That said last night a DPD van nearly drove up my arse on the A38 at about 80mph because the driver was looking at one of those PDA things instead of where he was going - I swerved out of his path and honked , at which point he swerved in in front of me and braketested me. I took his number plate, and Ive sent the plate with a videoclip from my roadhawk (which shows the brake testing and him giving me the finger out of his window but sadly not the initial bit as i don't have one rear mounted) to both DPD and the Devon Police

 

[Steve Smith]

I think hands free should be against the law as well

So do I. It's the casual style of interactive two way phone conversation which reduces your concentration.

On a side note, it is still legal to use a CB isn't it.?What's the difference.?

I personally think that a conversation via CB where only one person can speak at a time reduces concentration less than a phone conversation but I also think that if you were seen to be driving whilst holding a CB radio microphone, then that would be enough for a charge of driving without due care and attention as you now only have one hand available for the steering wheel.


Steve.

 

[donut]

cb radios transmitting on 27 mhz are exempt from the mobile phone law

 

[Wookee]

..................
but I also think that if you were seen to be driving whilst holding a CB radio microphone, then that would be enough for a charge of driving without due care and attention as you now only have one hand available for the steering wheel.
Steve.

WDC has been mentioned a couple of times. It isn't the offence we would use as it refers to the manner of driving and part of the points to prove is that "the standard of driving fell well below that expected of a careful and competent driver" . So unless their actions resulted in the driving being poor the offence isn't complete.

Instead, we would use the offence of Not in Proper Control which is what we used to use for phones prior to the amendment to cover this specific offence. So NIPC could be used for newspaper readers, shavers, make-up artists, eaters and smokers. We would have to show why they weren't in proper control though, not just that they were doing X so they must be.

For instance a shaver driving one-handed while looking ahead and paying attention to his surroundings is different to one who has the interior mirror tilted to an angle where he can see his face and is then looking into that while shaving and steering one-handed.

Eating an apple while driving down the road isn't NIPC. If it were, how would we be able to eat doughnuts while driving?!?

 

[Steve Smith]

Instead, we would use the offence of Not in Proper Control which is what we used to use for phones prior to the amendment to cover this specific offence. So NIPC could be used for newspaper readers, shavers, make-up artists, eaters and smokers. We would have to show why they weren't in proper control though, not just that they were doing X so they must be.

Thanks. I thought there was another term for it but couldn't remember it.

Eating an apple while driving down the road isn't NIPC. If it were, how would we be able to eat doughnuts while driving?!?

You're just careful that one of us doesn't spot you and report you!


Steve.

 

[Deleted member 34016]

I see them doing it round here. Oh, for a sniper's rifle....

I think I can help you there Suz, any preference on the Calibre
Here's one I have for sale



Les