Do you drive while using your mobile phone?

[monkeyspank]

I do and I don't. If I'm just chipping along the motorway or something I'll answer it if it rings and say I'll call back or something. I don't make calls and I don't answer if I'm not going along at a set speed and direction.

 

[Cueball]

I always use my mobile phone when driving.

Then again, I always use hands-free, and all my conversations are like this:

Me: hello?
Him: Alrite mate?!
Me: Yer, whats up?
Him: Gonna go out to ta taawn tonight for a few tinnies, you comin'?
Me: Yer, where/when?
Him: Meet my place, 8:30.
Me: Got it, your place, 8:30.
Him: Cya *******
Me: Later, *******.

All information received. Time taken: 20 seconds.

 

[paradigm]

I was actually happy to see a cop stop a van driver this morning using his phone whilst driving

 

[L0rdMike]

I watch dvds when im driving.

I have been on my phone when driving, Im still looking at the road reading whats happening. Driving and talking isnt a hard thing to do.

 

[TripleT]

I really dont see how, when driving down the M5, me using my phone hands free with my carkit is really that much safer than the guy going past holding his to his ear.

You are still concentrating on a call *and* driving, regardless of whether you are holding the phone or not...

So true.

Which also goes back to my point of how many people occasionally drive one handed. Whether it's resting it on the gear knob or whatever. I know I do it and I'm pretty damn sure a lot of others will do too.

I can hold the phone in my left hand and also change gear with the same hand, yes it interupts the call but at least I still have a hand on the wheel and I'm concentrating. In an emergency I can drop the phone, which is no different from someone who is resting their hand on the gearknob while talking to a passenger in reality.

Most people will probably come back saying "No I never drive one handed etc etc" but with the MAJORITY I'd find it hard to believe

I'd actually love to sit in with some people here who are apartent perfect drivers.

By the way I can apprieciate that it may be safer using a hardwired kit or whatever, but I don't agree that it's UNSAFE to use a phone normally. There's a difference.

 

[paradigm]

Most people will probably come back saying "No I never drive one handed etc etc" but with the MAJORITY I'd find it hard to believe

There is a difference between driving "one handed" and driving with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the gear knob. I'm not saying that you are in as good control with one hand on the wheel and one on the gears as you would be with both on the wheel, however you are still in better control than with one hand holding a phone.

I tend to drive most of the time with one hand on the gears, unless i'm really pressing along a B road, in which case i'm most likely steering with quite some force, and thus use both hands on the wheel.

 

[DannyDan]

I really dont see how, when driving down the M5, me using my phone hands free with my carkit is really that much safer than the guy going past holding his to his ear.

You are still concentrating on a call *and* driving, regardless of whether you are holding the phone or not...

I agree with this. IMO, making phone calls using hands free devices should be banned too.

 

[[DOD]Asprilla]

I think it is unsafe, mainly because I'm frequently following people on the motorway who have poor lane choice, poor lane discipline or haven't paid attention to the exit they want until the last moment.

Apart from mainly being BMW drivers most of the folks I see driving dangerously are on the phone.

I saw an A6 swerving all over the place the other day on the M1 because the bloke was using his phone and also tilting his whole body into the passenger seat using the dashboard tohide the fact that he had a phone in his ear.

It's insane. Get a car kit or a bluetooh HS.

I don't doubt that everyone is capable of driving one handed and that we do it all the time. However, there is something psychological about being on the phone and your concentration levels; just like most people can't most people give the phone thier upmost attention regardless of whther you are driving or not.

As for it only being as dangerous as talking to the person next to you, that's not true either. I can't be bothered to go into the psychology of communications, but it's easier to talk to someone you can see and you don't have to concentrate as much to make your point completely understood.
Talking on the phone does take more concentration.

 

[munkyfunk]

Never.
However, if I get a call then I turn the speaker on and put the phone on the dashboard.

 

[L0rdMike]

You people that say you have to concentrate when on a phone make me laugh, its just talking into a piece of plastic.

 

[Locky]

cant say i done it here as i always have hands free fitted in my cars

 

[Will Gill]

You people that say you have to concentrate when on a phone make me laugh, its just talking into a piece of plastic.

totally agree, I've spent my entire working life talking on phones and im perfectly capable of doing countless other tasks whilst barely even thinking about the convo im having. maybe im a living deity though

 

[DreXeL]

I agree with this. IMO, making phone calls using hands free devices should be banned too.

And having conversations with people in the car? Ban that too?

 

[Firestar_3x]

And having conversations with people in the car? Ban that too?

According to the so called leading 'experts' this isn't the same deal, when talking on the phone you're trying to visualise being with them and what you're taking about or some stuff like that.

 

[Will Gill]

personally I find singing to myself much more dangerous, again I think this is because I am just that good, many a time i've lullabyed myself to sleep. Think thats because I always wanted to die in my sleep like my grandad.....not kicking and screaming like his passengers.

 

[JamesM]

i dont text and if the phone rings and its work i put it on loudspeaker and place it on the passger seat

 

[Cueball]

And having conversations with people in the car? Ban that too?

Talking in the car can be distracting, but it isn't as distracting as answering the phone and holding a conversation, hands-free or not.

IMO, of course.

 

[HamZilla]

Is there a special number for Police other than 999,you can call if you see people driving with mobile phones in their hand?

 

[L0rdMike]

Talking in the car can be distracting, but it isn't as distracting as answering the phone and holding a conversation, hands-free or not.

IMO, of course.

Yes cause pushing one button is hard isnt it?

Better not change the radio or anything then.

 

[Cueball]

Its not about pushing the button, it's about the conversation.

Every crap driver I see on the roads has a mobile phone plastered to their ear. Coincidence? I think not.