How many drivers can admit they have been distracted when talking on a hands free phone?
Personally I never use one in a truck or a coach but have in my car and when in busy traffic it definitely has an affect on my concentration depending on the conversation.
A transport manager friend of mine is at the moment having assessments carried out on all his drivers after a spate of minor accidents all done when talking on a phone.
This is what ROSPA think about it all…
albion1971:
How many drivers can admit they have been distracted when talking on a hands free phone?
Personally I never use one in a truck or a coach but have in my car and when in busy traffic it definitely has an affect on my concentration depending on the conversation.
A transport manager friend of mine is at the moment having assessments carried out on all his drivers after a spate of minor accidents all done when talking on a phone.This is what ROSPA think about it all…
Don’t tell 'em your name Pike! Beware - Albion is out on a “told you so” fishing trip. Don’t admit to anything 
How many admit to having avoided dozing off due to a good natter on the hands-free to relieve the boredom?
Hmmm, very subjective. I’d like to be able to say no I haven’t, but in all honesty anything that you pay attention to that isn’t directly involved in driving by its very nature must divert even a small part of your attention.
An example would be passing advertising billboards, you may think that you’re not looking but subconsciously you are registering them ( wonderbra advert anybody?), by the same token the plethora of traffic signs must also divert a small part of your attention too.
So to answer truthfully; then yes I’ve probably been distracted by a hands free conversation. The question remains though, is that distraction any more dangerous than the examples I listed above? Again if I answered truthfully I’d have to say no.
That’s only me though.
Yep…Missed junctions on motorways a few times.
I missed a turn off on the motorway the other day as my (so called) “planner” 
called me to find out what I could fit on my wagon including weights and times I would need for the next day as one was a timed pick up (waste of space)
This was on hands free.
To be honest I usually dont answer the call if I am not on a clear stretch of road or stopped as it nearly always gets complicated
Thankfully we dont get bothered that much…usually
the maoster:
Hmmm, very subjective. I’d like to be able to say no I haven’t, but in all honesty anything that you pay attention to that isn’t directly involved in driving by its very nature must divert even a small part of your attention.An example would be passing advertising billboards, you may think that you’re not looking but subconsciously you are registering them ( wonderbra advert anybody?), by the same token the plethora of traffic signs must also divert a small part of your attention too.
So to answer truthfully; then yes I’ve probably been distracted by a hands free conversation. The question remains though, is that distraction any more dangerous than the examples I listed above? Again if I answered truthfully I’d have to say no.
That’s only me though.
I defy any man not to be distracted by the billboard featuring Beyonces’ batty!
How many admit to having avoided dozing off due to a good natter on the hands-free to relieve the boredom?
Now grumpybum that would be a really stupid thing to admit would it not? A good driver would pull in and have a kip not make a call.
speaking to your passenger, lighting up a ■■■, looking in the rear view mirrors, scratching/picking your nose, thinking, looking at road signs are all just as dangerous as speaking on the hands free phone.
nope !
wasn’t me
never done that!
only answer cab phone to 4 numbers.
boss man. wife, wifes office, home.
and they all know to ask can you talk at mo !
grumpybum:
How many admit to having avoided dozing off due to a good natter on the hands-free to relieve the boredom?
Me.
I was driving down the motorway and thought I might stop for a 15 min power nap when the phone went, and I was chatting to my mate, past the services and all the way down to my collection with not another thought of how tired I was.
I’ll also admit, if I’m in a place that requires 100% concentration, looking for a delivery or trying to find somewhere to turn around after missing a turn for example, then I stop speaking and don’t actually hear anything that’s being said to me on the phone.
scotstrucker:
picking your nose,
Come to think of it I have never picked my nose so much since doing this driving thing
Nothing like a good scrape to break the day up, and I have a nose designed to be picked
Bit of a loaded question there, if you don’t admit to it, it could be seen that you have been distracted by a hands free conversation, but just aren’t man enough to confess. Thus working on our need to live upto our macho stereotype.
Or you just admit to it and wonder what Albion hidden agenda is?
Is it to collect data for various pressure groups or maybe to write am article for the Daily Mail, so they can do more sensational non reporting, to feed thier readers paranoia about everything.
I can see the headline now:
Evil truck drivers, including some immigrants, admit to losing control of truck whilst using handsfree phones, leading to fears of house prices crashing, Lady Diana will be spinning in her grave.
Its when the phone rings, the thing wakes me up
scotstrucker:
speaking to your passenger, lighting up a ■■■, looking in the rear view mirrors, scratching/picking your nose, thinking, looking at road signs are all just as dangerous as speaking on the hands free phone.
And who says that then?? Try doing a little research and you will find that is far from the truth.
albion1971:
How many drivers can admit they have been distracted when talking on a hands free phone?
Personally I never use one in a truck or a coach but have in my car and when in busy traffic it definitely has an affect on my concentration depending on the conversation.
A transport manager friend of mine is at the moment having assessments carried out on all his drivers after a spate of minor accidents all done when talking on a phone.This is what ROSPA think about it all…
why use one in the car if you don’t in the truck or coach 
what’s the difference, they can all kill if your not using full concentration. think of the children!!
There are plenty of distractions while driving. The summertime fanny being on display being top of list
F-reds
albion1971:
How many admit to having avoided dozing off due to a good natter on the hands-free to relieve the boredom?Now grumpybum that would be a really stupid thing to admit would it not? A good driver would pull in and have a kip not make a call.
No, it’s not stupid - no more so than turning up the radio, opening a window, drinking coffee. It’s just another method of keeping alert. In these days of cruise controls, automatic gearboxes and other devices designed to make the driver more bored, we often feel tired due to boredom, not actually needing sleep.
A good driver knows when speaking on the phone or any other activity is interrupting their concentration. When I need to reverse or find my way or carry out a difficult manoeuvre, I will not be on the phone. I will also switch the radio off, and oddly - also take my sunglasses off!
You would be happiest if everyone was chained to the wheel in the ‘ten to two’ position, no radio, no phone, no coffee, no passenger, no food, no singing, no scratching, and no looking at anything along the road that isn’t directly related to your journey.
I’m sure there are reports backing up all of the above - but we are humans, we like to talk to people, to look at things, to enjoy the journey. Not one of us would wilfully cause an accident, and we all to our best to avoid them and to protect other road-users around us.
You do tend to take things to extremes. Maybe we should just stop driving. Because that is the only way that more pedestrians, cyclists and other road users will not be hurt on the roads.
This could be turned around.
Has anyone surveyed pedestrians (other road users included) to see what distracts them when crossing a road?
albion1971:
scotstrucker:
speaking to your passenger, lighting up a ■■■, looking in the rear view mirrors, scratching/picking your nose, thinking, looking at road signs are all just as dangerous as speaking on the hands free phone.And who says that then?? Try doing a little research and you will find that is far from the truth.
nobody yet but mark them words they will be the next big no no that all the do gooders will be tripping over themselves too use too attack the motorist.
oh and too answer your question, yes i been distracted while on the phone but not anymore as firm i work for comunicate to its drivers via its tracking system which doesnt allow the contact function to work while the handbrake is off
I don’t have serious phone conversations in the cab at any time so it doesn’t distract from the job in hand.
I have though spent HOURS on the phone talking BLX with other guys on night shifts (thanks to Vodafone’s old ‘Stop The Clock’ option on a contract) to keep concentration levels up and the boredom threshold at bay…we yacked about utter crap, but it kept us going through those wee small hours of the night… 