ROG:
I think the law is wrong in the way it is done
I would like to see any mobile communication use illegal unless in an emergency or stationary with the park/hand brake on
The trouble is Rog, kids in the car can be at least as distracting, if not more so than a phone. So do we ban them as well? So is a CD player, potentially. So is an Ipod etc.
Where will it all end…■■
Interestingly, when flying an aeroplane you HAVE to be able to communicate via a radio whilst carrying out several other tasks. If you can’t, you won’t pass the tests.
So it can be done. It’s just that a lot of people don’t prioritise their attention. In a plane, the most important priority AT ALL TIMES is ‘fly the aircraft’.
When you get some idiot in a car that has a top priority of texting their missus/boyfriend etc. instead of driving the car, you get accidents. They look down at the phone, become absorbed and BANG!
But lets try not to tar everyone with the same brush. I’ve used a phone (via hands free) for years, both in a car and in the truck and even on my motorcycle, and have yet to have an accident of any sort. I’m certain many other drivers on here have done similar and do so on a daily basis.
There is the proof required it’s done in a reasonably safe manner surely?
ROG:
For those that say its ok and safe - how do you know that? - have you been assessed doing it?
Until you know then its only a belief that you are safe and not knowing you are safe doing it
so i need a trainer to assess if i’m fit enough to use a handsfree kit whilst driving, why not make it another part of a pointless dcpc course. can you use a phone while piloting a truck. lets do a 7 hour assessment on that. better than learning tachograph law over and over and over again every 5 years till the day i die
ROG:
For those that say its ok and safe - how do you know that?
2 million miles, no accidents, no points.
I used to have an hour chat on my mobile coming back up the A1 from London. 1am and the only wagon in sight. Tell me how that wasn’t safe?
Like speeding, it isn’t using a mobile phone whilst driving that kills but inappropriate use.
There was a joint study done last year between Carnegie Mellon and LSE universities into mobile phone use. They found no statistical evidence that talking on a mobile phone whilst driving resulted in more deaths and accidents. They tested it by analysing road traffic accident data in the hour before and after all mobile phone networks in the USA offered free calls - I think it was 8pm - and found absolutely no difference in the accident rate prior and post that time. And this is in a country with far higher deaths per 100m km travelled than the UK.
I used to have an hour chat on my mobile coming back up the A1 from London. 1am and the only wagon in sight. Tell me how that wasn’t safe?
Probably was quite safe because you had not so much to concentrate on but during the day in heavy traffic it would certainly not be safe.
Do you agree?
Just today I saw a truck driver using a hand held phone and at the same time trying to negotiate a roundabout.
Result was no indication and cutting up a car at the same time.
ROG:
I think the law is wrong in the way it is done
I would like to see any mobile communication use illegal unless in an emergency or stationary with the park/hand brake on
So can drivers not speak to passengers at all? I often chat to my mate via handsfree and it is the same as talking to him in the passenger seat. If I need more concentration of the road I will pause the conversation. Night trunking means much time staring at empty motorways and to be honest having a chat helps keep the mind occupied and the urge to sleep subdued!
I get distracted more talking to a passenger i find i keep turning to talk to them
albion1971:
They know because they are extremely arrogant.They think they are better than the people who have already killed whilst talking on a phone.
You and Rog must be related or both originate from Norfolk
I have been driving for 34 years 1 accident - non fault and 3 points - speeding (48 single carriageway) - all separate occasions…I know I should have been shot with the first point But what can I say … points and accidents were nothing to do with mobile phones!!
I have however avoided many accidents while talking to the wife, boss, mate and even the next delivery location!!! Not avoided because I was on the phone but avoided because they drove like idiots!!! I can’t drive for everyone and if people can’t read road signs and end up in the wrong lane then suddenly change…it’s not my fault!!
I hope most will understand my gist - Rog won’t cus he doesn’t really drive now
Not many like you, you say DRI-DIDDLY-IVER hell buddy, we forgot to tell you…you DRI-DIDDLY-IVER have been voted Trucknet Person of the Year.Congratulations.
Agree with the law or disagree with the law, it makes no difference really 'cos the law on mobiles is here to stay. The problem is that the law by its very definition has to cater to the lowest common denominator. I’m sure most of us have the concentration levels necessary to conduct a phone call, do all the other myriad things we do, and still manage not to crash in a fireball, but unfortunately we’ve all witnessed drivers for whom driving is not even in their “top ten things to do whilst driving” list, and whilst these people abound we are subject to laws catering for them specifically.
I do think that the mummy doing the school run with two pre pubescent kids fighting in the back seat is far far more likely to have/cause a crash than a person with 20 years accident free driving under their belt who happens to be in a hands free conversation whilst driving on a quiet motorway…
My pet hate at the moment is with the advent of smartphones the number of drivers (of all vehicles) who drive along updating their bloody facebook status or whatever else they do! This imo is a million times more dangerous than a hands free chat.
ROG:
For those that say its ok and safe - how do you know that? - have you been assessed doing it?
Until you know then its only a belief that you are safe and not knowing you are safe doing it
so i need a trainer to assess if i’m fit enough to use a handsfree kit whilst driving, why not make it another part of a pointless dcpc course. can you use a phone while piloting a truck. lets do a 7 hour assessment on that. better than learning tachograph law over and over and over again every 5 years till the day i die
No you do not need a trainer.If you read the news and facts and surveys about the drivers that have killed people while talking on a phone you might realise that it can actually be very dangerous and affects the majority of peoples concentration very badly.
Sounds like you are one of the many that seem to think they are fully capable and usually they are the worst type of drivers.
the maoster:
Agree with the law or disagree with the law, it makes no difference really 'cos the law on mobiles is here to stay. The problem is that the law by its very definition has to cater to the lowest common denominator. I’m sure most of us have the concentration levels necessary to conduct a phone call, do all the other myriad things we do, and still manage not to crash in a fireball, but unfortunately we’ve all witnessed drivers for whom driving is not even in their “top ten things to do whilst driving” list, and whilst these people abound we are subject to laws catering for them specifically.
I do think that the mummy doing the school run with two pre pubescent kids fighting in the back seat is far far more likely to have/cause a crash than a person with 20 years accident free driving under their belt who happens to be in a hands free conversation whilst driving on a quiet motorway…
My pet hate at the moment is with the advent of smartphones the number of drivers (of all vehicles) who drive along updating their bloody facebook status or whatever else they do! This imo is a million times more dangerous than a hands free chat.
Hang your head in shame! This is no place for well-reasoned, well thought out comments Move along !
ROG:
For those that say its ok and safe - how do you know that? - have you been assessed doing it?
Until you know then its only a belief that you are safe and not knowing you are safe doing it
so i need a trainer to assess if i’m fit enough to use a handsfree kit whilst driving, why not make it another part of a pointless dcpc course. can you use a phone while piloting a truck. lets do a 7 hour assessment on that. better than learning tachograph law over and over and over again every 5 years till the day i die
No you do not need a trainer.If you read the news and facts and surveys about the drivers that have killed people while talking on a phone you might realise that it can actually be very dangerous and affects the majority of peoples concentration very badly.
Sounds like you are one of the many that seem to think they are fully capable and usually they are the worst type of drivers.
Phones can distract if used inappropriately.
But so can:
Passengers
Cigarettes
Cd Player/radio
SatNav
Kids in back
Nice looking woman/man walking past(!)
Ipod use
Getting something out of the glove box
Drinking
Eating
Stress
Bad News
Illness
etc.
ROG:
For those that say its ok and safe - how do you know that? - have you been assessed doing it?
Until you know then its only a belief that you are safe and not knowing you are safe doing it
so i need a trainer to assess if i’m fit enough to use a handsfree kit whilst driving, why not make it another part of a pointless dcpc course. can you use a phone while piloting a truck. lets do a 7 hour assessment on that. better than learning tachograph law over and over and over again every 5 years till the day i die
No you do not need a trainer.If you read the news and facts and surveys about the drivers that have killed people while talking on a phone you might realise that it can actually be very dangerous and affects the majority of peoples concentration very badly.
Sounds like you are one of the many that seem to think they are fully capable and usually they are the worst type of drivers.
Phones can distract if used inappropriately.
But so can:
Passengers
Cigarettes
Cd Player/radio
SatNav
Kids in back
Nice looking woman/man walking past(!)
Ipod use
Getting something out of the glove box
Drinking
Eating
Stress
Bad News
Illness
etc.
Would you ban all the above as well?
I honestly do not think you have read much about it either.
Speaking on mobile phones has been proved to cause severe lack of concentration.
Stop drivers using them would stop that lack of concentration and there would be less accidents.
It is all about being responsible as a driver and anyone who is stupid enough to do some the other things you mention is not being a responsible or a professsional driver and coming on this forum I take it everyone thinks he is a professional!
Try doing a bit of research on the subject and you may well change your tune.
1 accident - non fault and 3 points - speeding (48 single carriageway) - all separate occasions…I know 
I should have been shot with the first point 
Move along !