No it doesn’t. It says THE RISK increases, not that the number of accidents increases. In fact the article you posted even said that the study includes data for all distractions
the scientists noted whether the driver was engaged in distracting activity, which included talking, dialing or reaching for a mobile phone alongside everyday occurrences like changing the volume on the radio or adjusting a rear-view mirror.
“alongside thing like changing the volume on the radio or adjusting a rear-view mirror.” It wasn’t just restricted to mobile phone use.
Lots of things increase risk but increased risk doesn’t automatically result in something bad happening. If I walk along a cliff 10ft from its edge I’m at 20 times greater risk than walking along it 200ft from its edge but in both cases the chances of me going off the edge of the cliff are zero.
Do your hands get sore from all the wringing they do?
Conor:
Lots of things increase risk but increased risk doesn’t automatically result in something bad happening. If I walk along a cliff 10ft from its edge I’m at 20 times greater risk than walking along it 200ft from its edge but in both cases the chances of me going off the edge of the cliff are zero.
So why bloody do it then?
The risk increases if I walk out into a road with my eye’s shut but Im certainly not going to do it!
Your argument holds no water, infact, its just landed on the floor!
Conor:
Do your hands get sore from all the wringing they do?
WTF does that have to with it?
I don’t use a phone whilst driving and pull over to make a call because it lessens the risk of someone getting hurt or killed.
I don’t drink and drive because of the same risk lessening process.
Sorry is that makes me some kinda light weight, non bad ■■■ trucker or summin.
ROG:
Why would any sensible driver choose to do something else whilst driving therefore making the task in hand harder?
Those without any common sense would be my answer
because driving for the most part is pretty easy and can be pretty boring at times. now don’t get me wrong, if tired i’ll pull over for a kip rather than fight it, but when i’m starting to feel tired, then a phone call will perk me up and keep me more alert.
ROG:
Why would any sensible driver choose to do something else whilst driving therefore making the task in hand harder?
Those without any common sense would be my answer
So you never have the radio on or CD playing while driving and if you have passengers in the vehicle with you not a word is spoken?
Of course I have - I would be lying if I said other but it was my choice so therefore not the most sensible option but I chose to deem the risk as acceptable
ROG:
Why would any sensible driver choose to do something else whilst driving therefore making the task in hand harder?
Those without any common sense would be my answer
So you never have the radio on or CD playing while driving and if you have passengers in the vehicle with you not a word is spoken?
Of course I have - I would be lying if I said other but it was my choice so therefore not the most sensible option but I chose to deem the risk as acceptable
ROG:
Why would any sensible driver choose to do something else whilst driving therefore making the task in hand harder?
Those without any common sense would be my answer
So you never have the radio on or CD playing while driving and if you have passengers in the vehicle with you not a word is spoken?
With the max respect Coffee, there’s a big difference in the two.
If you are talking on the phone part of your brain is occupied whilst doing that and its not the same as having a conversation with someone sitting next to you in the car or listening to music because your thoughts try to reach out and pick-out the emotion of the caller a lot more than if they are with you. For example, How can having an argument with a partner who MIGHT NOT REALISE YOU ARE DRIVING not influence your state of mind or mood? If a person using a piece of industrial equipment like a table saw had a mate standing next to him chatting this would be seen as a bit dodgy, so why not when your in control of a ton of car hurtling along at up to 70 mph?
Its kind of ironic that the latest freight locomotives that have just landed here in the UK have a device in the cab which can detect weather there’s a mobile phone switched on in the cab whilst the locomotive is moving, this is then recorded by the data recorder so as the driver gets disciplinary action when he gets his shift downloaded.
ROG:
Why would any sensible driver choose to do something else whilst driving therefore making the task in hand harder?
Those without any common sense would be my answer
So you never have the radio on or CD playing while driving and if you have passengers in the vehicle with you not a word is spoken?
Of course I have - I would be lying if I said other but it was my choice so therefore not the most sensible option but I chose to deem the risk as acceptable
So it’s confirmed, you have no common sense?
You chose your risk to be acceptable so maybe others are deeming the risk involved in making a hands free phone call is acceptable?
I nearly always drive with my headphones in my ears, plugged into either my phone of iPad listening to work related music mixes or podcasts. I can still hear what is going on around me, sirens and so on, but I don’t see that as any worse than the radio or talking to a passenger.
If the phone rings while headphones are I might answer it, especially if it’s a chance of work.
“Hi Neil it’s … Can you cover a class for us on Friday at 7?”
Yes, I can do that."
“Great, see you then.”
Not any more of a distraction or take any more thought than talking to the person next to me.
ROG:
Why would any sensible driver choose to do something else whilst driving therefore making the task in hand harder?
Those without any common sense would be my answer
So you never have the radio on or CD playing while driving and if you have passengers in the vehicle with you not a word is spoken?
With the max respect Coffee, there’s a big difference in the two.
I was just pointing out to ROG that is doing something else whilst driving and by his definition making the task harder and he is actually tarring himself with the same brush he is using on others, unless he never did those things.
There are lots of things that could affect your driving one day but not another. You might have a cold, or worse man flu. Might be having a crap day, have family or job worries preying on your mind. Have low blood sugar because you haven’t eaten in a while or be a little dehydrated. All those could be more of a distraction than a hands free phone call on a day your feeling good and healthy.
The phone use wasn’t actually a factor in this incident, it was the slack of sleep so it could be argued the earlier phone call kept him awake, less likely to fall asleep while on the phone.
Gembo:
With the max respect Coffee, there’s a big difference in the two.
If you are talking on the phone part of your brain is occupied whilst doing that and its not the same as having a conversation with someone sitting next to you in the car or listening to music because your thoughts try to reach out and pick-out the emotion of the caller a lot more than if they are with you. For example, How can having an argument with a partner who MIGHT NOT REALISE YOU ARE DRIVING not influence your state of mind or mood? If a person using a piece of industrial equipment like a table saw had a mate standing next to him chatting this would be seen as a bit dodgy, so why not when your in control of a ton of car hurtling along at up to 70 mph?
Its kind of ironic that the latest freight locomotives that have just landed here in the UK have a device in the cab which can detect weather there’s a mobile phone switched on in the cab whilst the locomotive is moving, this is then recorded by the data recorder so as the driver gets disciplinary action when he gets his shift downloaded.
Never had an argument with a passenger that affected your emotional state■■?
I’m sure I remember a case of a passenger who yanked on the vehicle handbrake which was deemed to be a factor in the driver loosing control and crashing, a crash in which the passenger who pulled on the handbrake lost their life. Can’t find a link yet but will keep looking.
Wiretwister:
I’m sure I remember a case of a passenger who yanked on the vehicle handbrake which was deemed to be a factor in the driver loosing control and crashing, a crash in which the passenger who pulled on the handbrake lost their life. Can’t find a link yet but will keep looking
Wiretwister:
I’m sure I remember a case of a passenger who yanked on the vehicle handbrake which was deemed to be a factor in the driver loosing control and crashing, a crash in which the passenger who pulled on the handbrake lost their life. Can’t find a link yet but will keep looking
Seems passengers are more dangerous than phones!!!
Mate of mine done that to me once when I was 18. It was dark and snowing at the time and I lost control and ended up in a some body’s front garden.
Reverse was selected quick and we ■■■■■■ off!
Luckily all that was broken was matey’s fence and a headlight.
I suppose we can draw the conclusion that pulling on the handbrake, talking on the phone, eating, putting on a CD, putting on fake up etc whilst moving may not necessarily cause you to have an accident in all cases but it increases the risk of you doing so!
I’m in the fence on this one. Obviously it was lack of sleep that caused the accident, due to having no respect for the driving hours law and not the phone.
I’d like to think that I am, and that all of you are as well, good enough at driving a lorry to do 2 things at once. After all, they really aren’t that hard to drive.
So I don’t see the harm in a quick chat on hands free.
Years ago, I used to get off the ferry in Fishguard, and to try and get as far down the m4 as we could in our 15 spread. In the middle of the night, this is the most boring drive I’ve ever done. So we’d chat on the cb, phone a few friends, make cheese sandwiches, whatever it took to alleviate the boredom and stay awake. Because the driving was the easy bit, the boredom made it hard.
