What do you think of the proposed new law on fine and points for handsfree mobile use in cars if not attentive

vf29_sandman

if u guys are in the uk and u are finally seeing how dangerous it is to mix driving and cell phones together, now u see what we in the states have had to deal with for quite some time. and to the poster that mentioned that drivers almost appear drunk.....oooo baby u hit that square on. i frequently see drivers yakkin on the phone doing a high rate of speed; at least 15 mph over, at times 30 mph over the limit, they also tend to drift all over the lane including in the other lane.

i actually think the law should equate cell phones and driving the same way as a drunk driver. i do know that ny state has banned the use of cell phones while driving, hands-free excepted, but the fact is, that is still a driver distraction. and a distraction at high speed can get someone killed very easy. 3 points is too low. i suggest.....1st offense: 6 points and a 30 day suspension, $500 fine. 2nd offense in a year: 12 points, 90 day suspension, 3 days in jail or a $1000 fine.

i know its a pipe dream for it to actually be put to use, but these kind of drivers scare the s_hit outta me on the bike. do u have any idea what the pucker factor is like when a cager turns left in front of u at almost point blank range...all because he couldnt put down the dam phone?

Ivan R

Hello,

(ANS) The changes in the law announced recently are for those drivers who use a mobile phone whilst driving (I dont think it applies to a handsfree system).

Personally I welcome this idea, I think its a very good thing, I'm a very experienced driver and am still shocked & amazed by the number of people who I still see talking on a mobile phone whilst driving. I think that kind of behaviour deserves a harsher punishment because its so dangerous too other people (not only other drivers). People choose to ignore the exsisting laws as it is, so its about time the law was made harsher.

IR

tinkicker0

As far as I am aware, the new law is for handheld use, not handsfree.
Â£20 will buy a bluetooth headset, so those that still insist on driving with a phone glued to their ear should be treated the same way as drunk drivers.
A woman nearly ran into me in a supermarket car park the other day, because she was on the phone and couldn't spin the wheel quick enough.

bob

they are only just bringing in points for normal mobile use.
Handsfree is like talking to your mates in the car and can be banned outright.
I think driving without due care and attention is down to individual caese and a blanket approach to talking handsfree would be foolish

tomski

about time!

vicky s

I think its a good thing. The law as it is at the moment is not stopping people from using mobile phones so more needs to be done about it. I think that 3 points on your licence as a punishment should have more of an effect. I dont see why people feel the need to use their mobile when driving anyway especially when they know that it is dangerous. Imagine if you killed someone just because you were using your mobile phone!!

c.j.davies

Should have done it sooner.

Boston The Border Collie

Excellent. Far too many people using mobiles when driving. The preamble to the police advanced driving course is as follows..

My aim today, as all days, is to drive this car to the best of my ability. To do this will require my total concentration to the exclusion of all distractions etc. How can you concentrate on the task in hand if you are on the phone?

freddiem

I think it is long overdue.

uncle fester

I think if you are using a handheld phone whilst driving you should have one of you hands amputated. Serves you bloody well right & I bet you won't do it again.

Hammer&Drill

I think it is still not harsh enough, it should be 6 points so two strikes and you are banned, and as it is totally not necessary the fine should be Â£5,000 mobile phones have only been around for a few years, that is the proof they are not needed while driving. I have seen people using them in very dangerous places , I saw one chap start driving doing a 3 point turn while he was on the phone, why not talk before he started. The best answer is to turn it of while travelling unless you have a passenger who can answer for you.

Steve M

The law applies to both hand held and hands free phones. The addition of penalty points is long overdue, both types of phone take your attention away from the road (the number of people I have seen looking at their phone while using a hands free system is immense!!).

The law is not new, it is just a change in the penalties that may be applied.

Having friends who have had to medically retire (at young ages) due to injuries received when hit by drivers using mobile phones I would strongly recommend against ANY use of mobile phones while driving.

If you need to make a call then stop in a safe place and make the call. If you are receiving a call - on a hands free system, keep it short and if necessary make a return call later.

It is a requirement of some MORR (Management of Occupational Road Risk) regimes that mobile phones are switched off while driving to prevent distraction.

welshelf

make the fine Â£2000 confiscate the mobile and 10 points on your license a blue-tooth hands free kit is cheap less than Â£400 inc. fitting its cheaper than an accident or a child's life

second offence should be 10 years driving ban

I know I'm controversial , but sick of seeing people driving with 1 hand with a phone stuck to their ear NO phone call is THAT important

Oh yeah and for a final touch tow the car away and have it crushed

musonic

There are no shortage of safety pressure groups/police who campaign on the basis that everyone is either stupid or less knowledgable than themselves.

Holding anything in one hand is dangerous when driving in traffic, but at 3am on a deserted motorway, possibly not, but the do-gooders will press for blanket laws nevertheless.

People always judge others by their own abilities or lack of them, and when it comes to telephoning on the move, using hands-free, I am not distracted for a second, and remain totally aware of what I am doing.

I can even reverse into a very tight space, hold a conversation and clean a rear-view mirror at the same time.

I know a top concert organist, who can talk about the weather and never miss a note of music.

The fact is, some people are naturally good at certain things, and most aren't, and I don't think there was ever a concert pianist who got there simply because they read the rules and the technique.

And just in case some jobsworth safety campaigner gives me the thumbs down, I would just point out that I not only chat away on the phone while driving, I happen to drive a 60ft long artic.

Not only that, I haven't had a road-accident in over 2,000,00 miles.

I don't know of many police drivers who could claim that, but they think they know best.

monty

How can anyone prove you were not attentive they would have to be mind readers. then again if you were all over the road whilst on the phone theres already a law (driving without due care and attention) We don`t need any more of this governments crap.

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