I hope so but fear it is kicking the can down the road...
At least AA and RAC seem to be on board...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Is this progress?
(17 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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I'd support it even if it's to stop people driving with a phone in their hand as it plays through the car's Bluetooth.
Got one incident with the police currently where a driver was holding the phone in their hand, while saying "I'm not using the phone I'm just holding it, it's coming through the car".
Posted 5 years ago # -
Seems the start of a slippery slope IMO. Will this make talking if you're driving illegal? Or listening to the radio?
They should be focussing their efforts oncatching and prosecuting those who operate their phones while driving as they aren't concentrating on the road and don't have full control of their vehicle.
FWIW my car has a very good handsfree setup with full voice activation and I do occasionally use it to make short phone calls.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I can't see how using a phone in any way when driving can be safe and think it is at least as bad as drink driving. Action needs to be taken sooner rather than later and maybe automatic suspension would stop people from taking risks.
Even better work with the networks to jam phones within cars
and remove the temptation.Posted 5 years ago # -
When I were a driver 30 odd year back I found the radio very distracting and had to turn it off. I was a very bad driver indeed.
Back then people used to stop driving when the traffic light was red. Amber gambling was tutted at. People did move off promptly when queueing and lights changed from red to green and were honked at if slow to move.
Now drivers scream through lights as they change from amber to red. However, if I am in a queue when the red light turns green I am the only one moving. The drivers are all on their phones.
O Tempora Mores
Posted 5 years ago # -
I don;t use hands free very often, as I only use the car at the weekend, and usually the person I want to speak to is sitting next toi me.
If I do need to use it, I press a button on the steering wheel to activate it, then just talk. All the time looking forward, and with both hands on the wheel.
I must confess I'm not sure talking to someoen not in the car is more distracting to talking to someone in the car.
My 4 year old is the most distracting thing in the car. Except for when he has a phone and is watching Blippi on YouTube.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I must confess I'm not sure talking to someoen not in the car is more distracting to talking to someone in the car.
I find it difficult enough to hold a conversation with a passenger in the car while I'm driving. Trying to drive while holding a phone and conducting a meaningful conversation would be ridiculous.
Maybe it's my motorbike riding coming into play: I tend to concentrate very hard and observe everything.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I must confess I'm not sure talking to someoen not in the car is more distracting to talking to someone in the car.
At least a passenger in the car can tell when the driver is in a stressful or high-workload situation, e.g. at a junction, and can pause the conversation appropriately.
I don't think this necessarily requires a knowledge of driving, just social awareness. Even kids can figure out "when not to talk to the driver"
Posted 5 years ago # -
Experimentation & research have proved that talking to someone not in the car is more distracting - I remember watching a documentary on it some time back. It's all to do with how the brain has to work harder when conversing with no visual cues from the other party, a natural inability to multitask well (the brain will focus on the call rather than the driving) and the fact that passengers can see if there's a traffic problem or if the driver is concentrating on driving and stop talking, whereas a caller at the other end of the phone sees nothing and will talk on regardless.
Or something along those lines - my memory is pretty terrible!
Posted 5 years ago # -
The visual cues thing is difficult, as in either case eyes are not looking at the person speaking, they are looking out the front window.
I often just stop talking, sometimes to Mrs B's annoyance - did you hear me? - often said in both circumstances, when I've zoned out of a conversation to concentrate on something.
I'm not sure passengers pay much attention to anything that might be happening outside of the car when they Re not engaged in driving.
Maybe single occupancy should be mandated...
Posted 5 years ago # -
"Except for when he has a phone and is watching Blippi on YouTube." That's one of the most distracting things my kids do, although it's possibly because there is two of them and they argue over whose turn it is to choose next. Needless to say they don't watch it in the car.
@threefromleith, That is my memory of the media's interpretation of the research too. However I would rather they find ways to effectively enforce the current laws. For instance surely a technological solution to stop speeding would save far more lives and be easier to create and enforce than this.
I can't think of a way to stop people using their phone in a car which wouldn't also affect public transport.
Posted 5 years ago # -
"Except for when he has a phone and is watching Blippi on YouTube." That's one of the most distracting things my kids do, although it's possibly because there is two of them and they argue over whose turn it is to choose next. Needless to say they don't watch it in the car."
Only one boy, he happily watches with his headphones on. :)
Posted 5 years ago # -
"I can't think of a way to stop people using their phone in a car which wouldn't also affect public transport."
Faraday cage built into the vehicle? But then passenger wouldn't be able to use their phones either: maybe a blessing?
Posted 5 years ago # -
Or the sat nav etc.
Frankly if they enforced the don't text/facebook and drive laws then worry about hands free which would be incredibly difficult to enforce.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Do people using phone in cars attempt the It Was Hands free defence?
@baldycyclist, if single occupant cars is a serious proposal they would all need to be under 3 metres in length
Posted 5 years ago # -
These day's I barely even notice someone talking on the phone, it's everyone reading/writing text messages, watching videos and trying to hold phones between legs that really are really frightening.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@chrisfl: today I saw someone looking at *two* mobiles at the same time when driving: no hands on the wheel.
Posted 5 years ago #
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