Are you man enough to admit it?

[newmercman]

I’ve made balls up loads of times through being distracted, sometimes on the phone (arguing with the pyschobitchfromhell is a good one for that) sometimes listening to a song on the radio, sometimes by daydreaming or just being away with the fairies for a minute.

How can you stop that? You can’t legislate reasonable behaviour in a creature that runs on hormones, you can’t legislate that radio stations play crap music (although they’re doing a good job at Radio 1) and you can’t legislate people’s minds.

I’m sure that there are cases where talking on a phone has had a direct influence on somebody crashing, but overall I reckon that it has no significant impact in people’s concentration levels, so it’s jyst scaremongering.

Texting or internet use whilst driving is different, that definitely affects driving ability.

[flip]

I hold my hands up.
Definite drop in my standard of driving even whilst using handsfree.
Don’t take/make calls anymore whilst mobile unless it’s family and then it’s short n sweet and call back when parked up.
Especially since it became an automatic ban if caught on the phone behind the wheel of an hgv. Two of my mates have already appeared before the TC for it.
I regard it generally with the same contempt as drink driving…

[truckulent]

Albion:

1)Why are you obsessed with this issue?
2) Do you have the data about how many pedestrians are distracted whilst crossing a road by a mobile device?
3) Have you ever driven with a couple of young children in the back that are squabbling?

The latter is far more distracting than any mobile phone conversation that is conducted hands free. So can we expect you to start a crusade about banning people from carrying children in cars unless there is a supervising adult present?

The trouble with all extremes is that they have a skewed view of the issue and very rarely present a balanced argument. It tends to focus on all evidence that supports their theories and ignore anything that doesn’t.

I have driven thousands of miles all over Europe in cars, lorries and on bikes, whilst on the phone (hands free) and have NEVER had an accident. Plenty of others have too. It can be done.

I saw a woman the other day using a hair curling thing whilst driving. I wonder if that is worthy of your attention as well?

The only way to stop accidents completely is to stop driving altogether. There. Problem solved. Trouble is, it throws up a few new issues…!

[albion1971]

Truckulent:
Albion:

1)Why are you obsessed with this issue?
2) Do you have the data about how many pedestrians are distracted whilst crossing a road by a mobile device?
3) Have you ever driven with a couple of young children in the back that are squabbling?

The latter is far more distracting than any mobile phone conversation that is conducted hands free. So can we expect you to start a crusade about banning people from carrying children in cars unless there is a supervising adult present?

The trouble with all extremes is that they have a skewed view of the issue and very rarely present a balanced argument. It tends to focus on all evidence that supports their theories and ignore anything that doesn’t.

I have driven thousands of miles all over Europe in cars, lorries and on bikes, whilst on the phone (hands free) and have NEVER had an accident. Plenty of others have too. It can be done.

I saw a woman the other day using a hair curling thing whilst driving. I wonder if that is worthy of your attention as well?

The only way to stop accidents completely is to stop driving altogether. There. Problem solved. Trouble is, it throws up a few new issues…!

To answer your questions firstly I am not obsessed with this issue just interested to hear peoples views on the matter and as expected you get the good honest answers and the moronic ones!
Not so long ago I was being accused of being obsessed with tailgating and again not obsessed with it just despise it.

No I do not have data about pedestrians but surely that is a completely different matter.They are not in charge of a 44 ton truck and usually only damage themselves through being distracted.

Thirdly yes I have had noisy children in the back but thankfully many years ago.Personally I would let the wife handle them whilst I drove.

Of course you are correct you will never stop accidents but there is an awful lot that could be done to prevent a lot of them happening.
Driving tests need to be far stiffer.Penalties for offences need to be a lot stiffer and the biggest one of all…ATTITUDES need to change.
Also more Police on the roads observing and stopping and prosecuting the ones that drive dangerously.
All that would help greatly.

Of course this will never happen because it would cost too much and human lives do not seem important to some so I will just have to go on ranting with my opinions… sorry…

[terry_t]

bigvern1:
Yep…Missed junctions on motorways a few times.

Me too. And once I nearly went round that sharp bend on the M62 as it turns into the M60 at limiter speeds in a double decker. That would’ve been a roll over for sure had I not braked when I did.

Now I only answer the phone when on a clear road miles away from having to do anything other than over take. Don’t even put it in around town.

[wiretwister]

albion1971:
To answer your questions firstly I am not obsessed with this issue just interested to hear peoples views on the matter and as expected you get the good honest answers and the moronic ones!
Not so long ago I was being accused of being obsessed with tailgating and again not obsessed with it just despise it.

No I do not have data about pedestrians but surely that is a completely different matter.They are not in charge of a 44 ton truck and usually only damage themselves through being distracted.

Thirdly yes I have had noisy children in the back but thankfully many years ago.Personally I would let the wife handle them whilst I drove.

Of course you are correct you will never stop accidents but there is an awful lot that could be done to prevent a lot of them happening.
Driving tests need to be far stiffer.Penalties for offences need to be a lot stiffer and the biggest one of all…ATTITUDES need to change.
Also more Police on the roads observing and stopping and prosecuting the ones that drive dangerously.
All that would help greatly.

Of course this will never happen because it would cost too much and human lives do not seem important to some so I will just have to go on ranting with my opinions… sorry…

I agree with all of this in varying degrees but think that you’ve left out a crucial point, namely the driver training which, in my experience, is aimed at passing the test and not learning to drive or roadcraft. I see a lot learner drivers in the streets where I live. Why? Because we are on a “test route”.

A stiffer penalty I would like to see is banned drivers should have to retake the driving test before licenses are returned.

[retired_old_fart]

A while ago I was the front seat passenger in a car driven by my step son whose job as a regional manager for a motor factor involves all sorts of people contacting him most of the day. Whenever he took a call on his hands free phone his driving became noticeably more erratic, leading me to wonder if the same thing happened when I took a call.

[dipper_dave]

Never had a problem with it. 50% concentration to me is more than most folks 100% so I have brain capacity to spare. Maybe I’m just more evolved than most folks on this thread.
Haven’t had a troll for ages so just giving it a bash

[albion1971]

I agree with all of this in varying degrees but think that you’ve left out a crucial point, namely the driver training which, in my experience, is aimed at passing the test and not learning to drive or roadcraft. I see a lot learner drivers in the streets where I live. Why? Because we are on a “test route”.

Totally agree with you.I was involved with training when it became licence aquisition rather than driver training.Of course it was all done to save money.
I remember at that time we had a meeting about it and it was mentioned how the standards would drop dramatically with this type of training.
We were told it was not our problem and our job was just to get them through their test.
I was appalled by that attitude as many others were but it happened and of course standards dropped and accidents increased.
Pathetic.

[truckulent]

albion1971:

Truckulent:
Albion:

1)Why are you obsessed with this issue?
2) Do you have the data about how many pedestrians are distracted whilst crossing a road by a mobile device?
3) Have you ever driven with a couple of young children in the back that are squabbling?

The latter is far more distracting than any mobile phone conversation that is conducted hands free. So can we expect you to start a crusade about banning people from carrying children in cars unless there is a supervising adult present?

The trouble with all extremes is that they have a skewed view of the issue and very rarely present a balanced argument. It tends to focus on all evidence that supports their theories and ignore anything that doesn’t.

I have driven thousands of miles all over Europe in cars, lorries and on bikes, whilst on the phone (hands free) and have NEVER had an accident. Plenty of others have too. It can be done.

I saw a woman the other day using a hair curling thing whilst driving. I wonder if that is worthy of your attention as well?

The only way to stop accidents completely is to stop driving altogether. There. Problem solved. Trouble is, it throws up a few new issues…!

To answer your questions firstly I am not obsessed with this issue just interested to hear peoples views on the matter and as expected you get the good honest answers and the moronic ones!
Not so long ago I was being accused of being obsessed with tailgating and again not obsessed with it just despise it.

No I do not have data about pedestrians but surely that is a completely different matter.They are not in charge of a 44 ton truck and usually only damage themselves through being distracted.

Thirdly yes I have had noisy children in the back but thankfully many years ago.Personally I would let the wife handle them whilst I drove.

Of course you are correct you will never stop accidents but there is an awful lot that could be done to prevent a lot of them happening.
Driving tests need to be far stiffer.Penalties for offences need to be a lot stiffer and the biggest one of all…ATTITUDES need to change.
Also more Police on the roads observing and stopping and prosecuting the ones that drive dangerously.
All that would help greatly.

Of course this will never happen because it would cost too much and human lives do not seem important to some so I will just have to go on ranting with my opinions… sorry…

Not necessarily true.

A pedestrian steps out in front of a driver due to not paying attention, the driver swerves and hits a vehicle coming the other way head on.

Potentially lethal. But, if that pedestrian literally walks under the car because they are distracted it is their fault. It could potentially affect a number of people.

Incidentally, the scenario I mention actually happened to a friend of mine, though fortunately there were no serious injuries, just a lot of damage to the cars and a few minor ones. But had it happened at any speed…

I agree, tougher testing and I’m all for police presence - but this costs money and does not make it, so it won’t be happening any time soon.

I’m emphatically against holding a device whilst driving. But it’s very difficult to prove that talking hands free is any more distracting than a number of other things a driver could be doing, quite legally whilst driving.

Which is why hands free isn’t illegal, I would say.

[gasgas]

Scania did some tests which showed that, at night, towards the end of a shift, on an otherwise empty boring road, driver concentration/alertness actually IMPROVED if they were able to chat on the phone to someone.

I’m sure the reverse is the case if you are on a busy road at the start of a shift and trying to get your ‘driving head’ on.

Also there’s the content of the call to worry about, if it’s a ‘difficult’ call then it’s going to have an impact.

A bad call is idiot boss asking where you are when you’ve been stuck in traffic and have abandoned the motorway and are navigating your way past the congestion through a strange town.

[albion1971]

To conclude then it seems some think it completely safe at all times(I disagree) some seem to know when to talk and when not to talk(very wise) but we are all human and make mistakes.
Unfortunately a lot of these mistakes could be eliminated if we spent more time concentrating on our driving and not letting ourselves be distracted by unecessary tasks.
Think of others instead of yourself more often my be a good motto for some.

[jls_driver_sos]

Amazingly enough, humans seem to have been gifted or have evolved the ability to multi task, sometimes it doesn’t do any harm to use this skill bestowed upon us

[albion1971]

JLS Driver SOS:
Amazingly enough, humans seem to have been gifted or have evolved the ability to multi task, sometimes it doesn’t do any harm to use this skill bestowed upon us

Oh Yeah…maybe you should have a read of this then…

nsc.org/safety_road/Distract … g-Lie.aspx

or this…

ehstoday.com/safety/multitasking … -exception

or even this…

blogs.cdc.gov/ncipc/2013/05/28/m … the-wheel/

[tarrman]

Drift:

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

One of my habits, can’t beat a good rummage!

[retired_old_fart]

albion1971:
To conclude then it seems some think it completely safe at all times(I disagree) some seem to know when to talk and when not to talk(very wise) but we are all human and make mistakes.
Unfortunately a lot of these mistakes could be eliminated if we spent more time concentrating on our driving and not letting ourselves be distracted by unecessary tasks.
Think of others instead of yourself more often my be a good motto for some.

Sorry, Albion, but we cannot stop some drivers being convinced that they are better than they actually are.
Until there’s a death, of course.

[dipper_dave]

A more accurate conclusion would be that this thread demonstrates the gap between those who can’t do something and then their logic dictates it dangerous for some one else to do it based on their own evolutionary shortcomings or genetic weakness’s.
The hard of thinking demonstrate their shortcomings by having to link to other webpages in order to make someone elses opinion their own.

Its natural that some folks are better at multi tasking than others and its natural that some folks are higher up the evolutionary ladder.

Evolution does not follow a steady uniform course, some may be crap at driving some are better, some may think they are better than others but are still crap. Me I’m above average but occasionally have moments of incredible crapness.

I can honestly say I could hold a hands free conversation quite safely for any driving period. Not only that i would also be able to pour a cup of tea as well.

[wiretwister]

albion1971:
Oh Yeah…maybe you should have a read of this then…

nsc.org/safety_road/Distract … g-Lie.aspx

or this…

ehstoday.com/safety/multitasking … -exception

or even this…

blogs.cdc.gov/ncipc/2013/05/28/m … the-wheel/

All American sites for organisations that appear to be single issue pressure groups who, it could be argued, will be reluctant to use data that does not support their agenda. The BIG flaw in that approach is that driving is a multitasking activity (observation, assessment, operation of controls) so to proclaim that it is not safe to multi task and drive would lead to the conclusion that it is not possible to drive safely in any circumstance. Would you not agree?

Consider also the frequency of hands free use, in keeping on topic, where there is NO adverse impact. At best the hands free use of a phone would be one of several aggravating factors and rarely the sole contributor in any given incident.

[albion1971]

Wiretwister:

albion1971:
Oh Yeah…maybe you should have a read of this then…

nsc.org/safety_road/Distract … g-Lie.aspx

or this…

ehstoday.com/safety/multitasking … -exception

or even this…

blogs.cdc.gov/ncipc/2013/05/28/m … the-wheel/

All American sites for organisations that appear to be single issue pressure groups who, it could be argued, will be reluctant to use data that does not support their agenda. The BIG flaw in that approach is that driving is a multitasking activity (observation, assessment, operation of controls) so to proclaim that it is not safe to multi task and drive would lead to the conclusion that it is not possible to drive safely in any circumstance. Would you not agree?

Consider also the frequency of hands free use, in keeping on topic, where there is NO adverse impact. At best the hands free use of a phone would be one of several aggravating factors and rarely the sole contributor in any given incident.

wiretwister I was hoping from a reply from JLS driver but never mind eh.
It is just not americans that agree talking on a phone causes problems.
Here is one from a very well respected British Company in case you missed it earlier.
There are many more as well.

rospa.com/roadsafety/advicea … sheet.aspx

Consider also the frequency of hands free use, in keeping on topic, where there is NO adverse impact. At best the hands free use of a phone would be one of several aggravating factors and rarely the sole contributor in any given incident.

Not true there have been many incidents where it is the sole contributor.

However it seems we have drivers that think they can handle talking on a phone and that it does not affect their driving and we have some that just do not really care about anyone but themselves then we have the ones that realise it is safe to use it in certain conditions.
Some just do not want to believe anything they do not agree with.

[the_maoster]

Ouch! Think that last line may come back and bite you on the bum.