** I submit that this topic should be a 'pinned topic' because of its importance!

Why don't we switch off our mobile devices when piloting a car?

The cops now have a much more difficult job determining who was at fault: the drunk driver or the one who couldn't get their mind off their mobile platform!

How do we change this culture?

TheFunPolice wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2017 at 1:26pm:

** I submit that this topic should be a 'pinned topic' because of its importance! Why don't we switch off our mobile devices when piloting a car? The cops now have a much more difficult job determining who was at fault: the drunk driver or the one who couldn't get their mind off their mobile platform! How do we change this culture?

It's a tough one to change.

There are just so many idiots out there on the road who think they have the right to drive & text.

I saw a car drive into the back of another vehicle, because the driver was texting, and the driver continued texting after the accident.

She just sat there in her seat, texting away as if nothing had happened.

Just incredible.

Personally, I always put my phone on silent when I drive, and then put it in the glove-box.

That story is iconic! <shakes head!>

My nephew had an accident and we all got told the first thing the cops did was check his mobile phone.

He wasn't drunk he was texting...

The cops don't know what to do which means it has to go to a higher authority.

This world just seems to be asking for it these days  :-[

I leave it on.
If I have opportunity to pull over and answer the call, I do.
If I don't, I ignore the call until I have opportunity to call back.

I've been in an accident when I answered a call - my fault.

When I did Traffic Control many years ago.
The amount of people just driving into the cordoned off sections while texting was astounding.

Mind you. While driving 'outback'.
I could have my dinner while driving with my knees, using a knife and fork.  :D

You could almost understand the sense that one must be in contact with everyone else, all the time if . . . what was be said was really important.

But as we all have overheard in public, most of these communications are about nothing and sent from people who are barely literate.

I'm guilty, I text ALL the time....but in gridlocked traffic.
I actually CAN'T text while the car is moving because I start to feel motion sickness right away.

Call, bluetooth.

There are numerous studies, even a mythbuster episode, which shows talking on a mobile while driving, hands-free or hand-held, are about equally distracting so potentially accident causing.
but hands-free is legal.
all vehicles should pull over to talk on a mobile.
I turn off when I hear a politician or plod talking about road safety. They're full of it.
texting while driving is just crazy.

Jasin wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2017 at 7:15pm:

I leave it on. If I have opportunity to pull over and answer the call, I do. If I don't, I ignore the call until I have opportunity to call back. I've been in an accident when I answered a call - my fault. When I did Traffic Control many years ago. The amount of people just driving into the cordoned off sections while texting was astounding. Mind you. While driving 'outback'. I could have my dinner while driving with my knees, using a knife and fork.  :D

6 can trip,... Wait: that ain't funny?

There has always been distractions- of a provenly dangerous nature- yes, but mobile phones feel like a pandemic and I can't understand why this wasn't seen and nipped in the bud years earlier!

Are we all to blame for not saying something earlier ?

issuevoter wrote on Aug 4^th, 2017 at 12:47pm:

You could almost understand the sense that one must be in contact with everyone else, all the time if . . . what was be said was really important. But as we all have overheard in public, most of these communications are about nothing and sent from people who are barely literate.

That is the main point in my mind! Life is too short to worry about spam friends : it's a business coming home monstrosity to me and the tryhard needy friends can all get buggered in my opinion!

:D

Gordon wrote on Aug 4^th, 2017 at 1:36pm:

I'm guilty, I text ALL the time....but in gridlocked traffic. I actually CAN'T text while the car is moving because I start to feel motion sickness right away. Call, bluetooth.

Very good point: I hope it wasn't one of the mobile phone industry's main strategical grab points?

Very very good point  ;)

TheFunPolice wrote on Aug 5^th, 2017 at 1:12pm:

Gordon wrote on Aug 4th, 2017 at 1:36pm: I'm guilty, I text ALL the time....but in gridlocked traffic. I actually CAN'T text while the car is moving because I start to feel motion sickness right away. Call, bluetooth. Very good point: I hope it wasn't one of the mobile phone industry's main strategical grab points? Very very good point  ;)

That was almost conspiratorial it was such a good point  ;)

thecuriousmail wrote on Aug 5^th, 2017 at 7:59am:

There are numerous studies, even a mythbuster episode, which shows talking on a mobile while driving, hands-free or hand-held, are about equally distracting so potentially accident causing. but hands-free is legal. all vehicles should pull over to talk on a mobile. I turn off when I hear a politician or plod talking about road safety. They're full of it. texting while driving is just crazy.

Yeh, it was worthwhile doing that myth busters episode: they earnt some credibility with that experiment I must say!

Talking about plods talking about traffic: they aren't full of it- they pick heads out of helmets  :'(