Banning handsfree whilst driving

Needamaser

Member
Messages
1,491
Listened to this on the news.
Statistics showing talking on the phone handsfree contributes to x number of accidents and deaths etc every year apparently.
Is it more dangerous than having a discussion with a passenger in your vehicle? Or singing along to your tunes? Or wondering where Jeremy Vine finds these people that phone in on Radio 2? Has anyone carried out that study?
Is yelling at unruly kids in the back safer than ordering a pizza handsfree?
Is the answer ban passengers in cars until we are all fully automated?
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Un enforceable I would have thought, So if plod sees your lips moving they are going to do you? how are they going to know you weren't singing along to a song on the radio, or chatting with a passenger?
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,556
Un enforceable I would have thought, So if plod sees your lips moving they are going to do you? how are they going to know you weren't singing along to a song on the radio, or chatting with a passenger?

There are ways around that but just can't see it


C
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I tend to agree. However I tend to agree that talking to a passenger is exactly the same. On a long journey especially at night and/or rain I don't talk much. It takes all my brain power to keep the car on the road, straight and stopping it hitting other cars. As soon as anything distracts me then of course less attention is given to the primary task of driving. It isn't new, odd or rocket science. It is bl00dy obvious. Even changing a radio station in some cars is mind bogglingly dangerous.

I don't think talking on a mobile phone handsfree or not is any more dangerous than many other tasks or distractions most drivers legally perform every day of the week all the time.
 

Swedish Paul

Member
Messages
1,807
I don’t have the radio or phone on when I drive the GS as it sound so nice. I wonder if they’ll ban that too because of the smile factor.
 

dunnah01

Member
Messages
648
It's been a sackable offence where I work for about 3 years so it will happen sooner than you think
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I don’t have the radio or phone on when I drive the GS as it sound so nice. I wonder if they’ll ban that too because of the smile factor.

I often don't have the radio or music on often in a car either funnily enough. Sometimes noises irritate me and silence is nice. Not that you get much in the Maser or TVR of course ;)
 

iainw

Member
Messages
3,386
Un enforceable I would have thought, So if plod sees your lips moving they are going to do you? how are they going to know you weren't singing along to a song on the radio, or chatting with a passenger?
Phone records
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,040
Listened to this on the news.
Statistics showing talking on the phone handsfree contributes to x number of accidents and deaths etc every year apparently.
Is it more dangerous than having a discussion with a passenger in your vehicle? Or singing along to your tunes? Or wondering where Jeremy Vine finds these people that phone in on Radio 2? Has anyone carried out that study?
Is yelling at unruly kids in the back safer than ordering a pizza handsfree?
Is the answer ban passengers in cars until we are all fully automated?

What they are saying is yes it's more dangerous than talking to someone in the passenger seat as the passenger can see what you see and analysis shows that when you approach a junction etc the passenger will stop talking and sort if concentrates on what's happening where as on the phone that person isn't aware of what's happening on the road so becomes more distracting. I for one have stopped taking work calls in the car as that is distracting......
 
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2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,223
Motoring organisations on the radio this evening saying the information is 20 years out of date and that manufacturers have spent that time integrating phones so they are no more distracting than a passenger or radio quiz. I agree, holding the phone or texting, reading text, emails and the like absolutely remain distracting but completely hands free voice only. Really isn’t an issue IMHO so for once I agree with modern thinking.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
My BMW has iCrash
... Let's check out the news, weather, email, messages...
With just a single click disclaimer.
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Can still light up cigs and drive tho, think about how many times Your hand is off the wheel to perform those manoeuvres..
Exactly Dave, been saying this for years, if its an offence to eat, or use a phone whilst driving then its about time smoking whilst driving was made an offence, I say this as an ex smoker, and know exactly what its like to have smoke in your eyes, or the lit *** end that gets blown back in the window and goes between your back and the seat back, or ash getting in your eyes, all far more distracting.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
My wife is much more distracting than any mobile phone call handheld or handfree
“ slow down”
“ stop accelerating so hard”
“ put the window up it’s too noisy”
“Why does you car rev when you change gear”
Blah blah blah ..........
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
Interesting thread... and I have a very different view

I personally refuse to take any calls while driving, and think the comparison to a phone call or a text message to a conversation with another passenger in the car is, quite honestly, ******** and deluded.

I think we are so used to being engrossed with our phones, and that they soak up so much more attention and mental energy. Arguing it’s no different to lifting your hand to take a drink, or to smoke a cigarette, is, in my view nonsense.

I say this because I have had car journeys where I was driving and talking hands free where I’ve had very close calls / near misses, and I have had zero recollection of those journeys because I was so engrossed in the phone conversation!

As a result, I would now support a law and technology that bans phones from being on and receiving a signal while in a moving car....
 

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
I was under the impression the police were undermanned and overworked.
Now they’re gonna pull everyone over for this.....then try to prove it!

Seems a little extreme to me.
Handsets no question, cut and dry.
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
For me as long as my eyes are the road/mirrors, nothing else affects me.

Next blinking will be banned, cos you momentarily are blind.

Or sneezing.

I appreciate the sentiment but it seems now one oversight can cost a lot, zero tolerance.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I don't see the difference in having a handsfree conversation on a phone without touching it or having a conversation to a passenger in the car. If anything the conversation to the passenger in the car is often worse when you think about it as you often make eye contact or look at them. Surely that is worse.

Of course texting and any interaction with the phone is very different and an absolute no. Like others have side smoking or eating or even drinking from a bottle of water is just as dangerous. How can you draw the line. We already know that road accidents and deaths is a very small percentage of issues globally. Surely more money and attention is better pleased elsewhere as a higher priority.

We banned talking on mobile phones holding them ages ago and it still happens and is not resolved. Walk before you can run eh?!