Banning handsfree whilst driving

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
It's funny you should say that as we were having the same discussion at the dinner table earlier. It is all distracting of course but life isn't perfect so why are they trying to tickle a few silly bits here and there. Especially when you have the likes of Philip Green walking the streets and not behind bars. Don't get me started on bankers!
 

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,764
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.
My mates dad smoked roll ups , in the 70s he could roll a *** while steering with his knees

Once the flint went in his lighter, changing it was more of a challenge but he managed it

Thinks have changed since then thankfully

I'm more concerned about pensioners in automatics drug driving and the general driving like a **** in built up areas than I am hands free talking on the phone
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
21,012
Phone discussions are massively more distracting than 'human' discussions with a passenger. The distraction isn't to do with starting or ending a call, but with the mental power needed to concentrate on a scratchy line, the fact that the person (or persons) you're talking to are not aware of the other stuff you're processing (navigating, avoiding accidents etc) and hence don't shut up when an actual passenger would and so on. The only reason my phone is connected to my car is for music. Calls can't wait until I'm not driving for the simple fact that I'm more likely to have an accident if I'm on a call and driving at the same time.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I've had many a conversation, especially work related, and you are visualising and so involved you have no memory of the journey once you finish the call. You are on auto pilot.
The problem when you can be driving for work easily 6 hours in a day at times, it is valuable working time, while driving. I don't agree with it, but you are 'forced' to do it with our always connected society.
 

jluis

Member
Messages
1,703
What they are saying us 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......
I have stop taking work calls at all. Driving or not ....
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
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.

I can’t really explain why or how it is different, but for me they are massively different in terms of impact.

I don’t know if it’s because I have different conversations with the wife and kids to the work conversations I have by phone, but my experience is the same as Mike’s...

I've had many a conversation, especially work related, and you are visualising and so involved you have no memory of the journey once you finish the call. You are on auto pilot.

I’ve had people I know see me have (apparently) a very near miss in terms of someone nearly crashing into my car, and me having to swerve to avoid them, but I have zero recollection of the incident at all because I was on a call with work.... I’ve also had people tell me they were flashing their lights and waving at me to get my attention, but I didn’t see them (because I was so engrossed in a call).

As a result I now won’t take calls while I’m driving at all...
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
That fair enough and I can understand also appreciate that. Maybe your right. I'll have to get some to be my independent adjudicator in the car next time.

Maybe we need to bad children from the car
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Lets face it, there are many distractions in life that can affect your concentration, I know Women will disagree, but I am capable of doing more than one thing at a time! We have some of the safest roads in the world, and all the legislation in the world will not stop accidents happening, Life is dangerous, just wish they would stop trying to make it risk free, it ain't going to happen.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I watched a program or read an article about driving on our roads these days. Kind of suggested it was one of the most complex tasks with so many constant variables it is amazing a human can keep it on the road and avoid crashing as much as we do. Almost suggested that there could be more variable and input info than an F1 driver. Mainly as they have a maximum amount of information coming in just at high speed. We have more information coming in to process just at slightly slower speeds than an F1 driver. Kind of made sense.

I certainly have situation whens I have to turn off the radio or slow down to daisy speeds as my brain is having a hard time processing all the information coming in. It does hurt my head but that is not just driving but mainly driving. There must be a physiological limit as to how much a brain can process. Sometimes it can't and maybe this is when some accidents occur.
 

Wattie

Member
Messages
8,640
Can I suggest that in the interests of road safety that pedestrians in the possession of short skirts , high heels and big breasts are also banned immediately from parading in public.
I believe that they may a distraction to many on the roads and present an imminent danger to other road users.
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Can I suggest that in the interests of road safety that pedestrians in the possession of short skirts , high heels and big breasts are also banned immediately from parading in public.
I believe that they may a distraction to many on the roads and present an imminent danger to other road users.

I 2nd that.....have nearly had a ton of crashes due to women for various reasons!
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
As usual the real cause is being ignored, and something seen as a cause is being discussed.

Accidents happen because people drive like idiots, or can't drive. Making the driving test harder and introducing mandatory retesting is the real answer, along with better maintained roads, clearer signage and or course the simple fact that, in some parts of the country, the roads are just too busy. The level of driving out there is shocking regardless of phone use.
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
Can I suggest that in the interests of road safety that pedestrians in the possession of short skirts , high heels and big breasts are also banned immediately from parading in public.
I believe that they may a distraction to many on the roads and present an imminent danger to other road users.
Quite the opposite, it should be made compulsory. That way you won't have to turn your gaze :)