CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Drivers mobile phone use survey

(18 posts)
  • Started 9 years ago by Min
  • Latest reply from I were right about that saddle

  1. Min
    Member

    I noticed this story on the BBC yesterdaybut forgot to post it. Drivers were watched at certain locations to check for mobile phone use and it was found that more of them seemed to be texting or on the internet that making a call.

    Among car drivers, 1.4% were found to be using a mobile.

    I am at a loss to understand how they managed to get such a low figure. Perhaps they should try observing from the top deck of a bus instead as when I am up there I can see masses of drivers using their mobiles, sometimes several of them in a row. I reckon the figure is closer to 20%.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. wingpig
    Member

    Further reading, which has crashed my browser so I can't read it at the moment. I wonder if enough observation points were on long stretches of motorway, with large flows of vehicles where drivers are perhaps more likely to be fully-engaged with getting on with driving a long distance, rather than the multi-tasking short-journey city-driver we tend to see?

    Wonder if the data collectors also noted how many were using Other Electronic Devices such as Kindle™s, how many were eating Cornflakes® from a bowl, or if any were reading a non-electronic device like a book, map or delivery manifest?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. jdanielp
    Member

    They should think about opening it to the public so that drivers have an opportunity to complete the mobile phone use survey on their mobile phones while they are driving.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    "I am at a loss to understand how they managed to get such a low figure. Perhaps they should try observing from the top deck of a bus instead as when I am up there I can see masses of drivers using their mobiles, sometimes several of them in a row. I reckon the figure is closer to 20%."

    The BBC figure does seem low, though (in my experience) 20% would be a bit high. I'd go for somewhere around 5-8% (certainly when commuting I'd see maybe 2 per commute, but then I wasn't specifically looking for it, so I suspect the actual number would be higher). Would be interesting to do an actual count of our own.

    The fact more were texting or checking out social media is particularly worrying. Calling is, obviously, bad enough, but the lack of attention to the road required to read or write text is mind-blowing.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. twq
    Member

    My favourite was a chap playing a game on his phone on the steering wheel, while going up Cowgate at 30mph. Didn't manage to get it on camera unfortunately, but did give him an earful at the next set of lights.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. fimm
    Member

    May I offer a guess that people sitting in very slow-moving traffic feel that it is OK to use a phone while they might be less likely to (she says, being charitable) when moving at greater speeds?

    Someone I challenged about using his phone said "but the bus [that he'd stopped behind] had stopped!"; sugesting they thought it was OK to mess with the phone while the car was stationary. (Legally it isn't, I'm pretty sure.)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Kindle? This was a few years ago now.

    http://youtu.be/HRhGD7xyoaU

    I think you're right Fimm, but yes, even while stationary it's an offence (you're 'in charge of' the vehicle).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. neddie
    Member

    IIRC...

    Stationary + engine running + keys in ignition = offence

    Stationary + engine off + keys out of ignition = no offence

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. Stickman
    Member

    Kindle?

    Some people still prefer the printed word:

    http://road.cc/content/news/142867-mustve-been-page-turner-woman-caught-camera-reading-book-wheel

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. wee folding bike
    Member

    I'm uneasy about touch screen dashboards.

    I actually prefer using my phone for navigation because it can understand spoken commands whereas the satnav has to be looked at and tapped. I don't even need to tap the phone to get its attention, shouting "Hey Siri" should do it but this is an issue when it's plugged in beside my bed and Radio 4 news has an item about Syria. Last week it had transcribed a big chunk of the report.

    Siri still doesn't get The Chauffeur by Duran Duran and this week it repeatedly refused to play My Girl so I had to ask it for earlier tracks on One Step Beyond… then work forwards.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. paddyirish
    Member

    front page of Irish times website

    Posted 9 years ago #

  12. KeepPedalling
    Member

    I really hope something can be done about reducing texting and facebook etc while driving. I find it all too easy to spot by noticing if a driver's posture has their chin tucked under a little more than normal, allowing them to look down and back at the road.

    IIRC The police STATS 19 reports say most accidents are caused by "driver failed to look properly".

    It could have just been a coincidence, but when Blackberry had a blackout in the Middle East, accident rates plummeted.

    http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/blackberry-cuts-made-roads-safer-police-say

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. neddie
    Member

    White van man drove through the Balgreen Rd / Balgreen tram stop pedestrian crossing on red this morning. Reason - texting/facebooking while driving.

    It wasn't a case of going too fast to stop, nor of 'pushing on' to get through. No, he was in slow moving traffic and just blatantly drove through without looking up at the lights.

    Even after I'd slapped my hand on his bonnet he just stopped and continued to text, as if nothing had happened.

    Another lady crossing beside me was equally appalled

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. neddie
    Member

    I'm pretty sure if you did a survey at Balgreen tram stop ped. crossing, you would catch loads. I almost always see one per day for my brief time at the crossing (approx 30 secs)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Under the new legislation, which comes into force on Wednesday, March 1, the consequences double and will be six points and a £200 fine.

    In more serious cases, police officers have powers to prosecute drivers for careless or dangerous driving.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/drivers-in-scotland-using-mobile-phones-to-be-fined-200-1-4371234

    Posted 7 years ago #

  16. hunnymonster
    Member

    All pointless of course if the chances of being caught can be measured against the chance of a Lotto jackpot win...

    Penalties without adequate enforcement - that's worked well so far.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  17. gembo
    Member

    seems like every driver in front of me when lights change from red to green is on phone nowadays given the pause between the lights changing and them moving off that never used to be there. Of cpourse, I am biased.

    Posted 7 years ago #

  18. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    When the bypass is clogged of a winter morning at least a quarter of drivers' Faces are bathed in the blue glow of the Book.

    Posted 7 years ago #

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