The legislators aren't in a tearing hurry to criminalise all hauliers, taxi drivers and emergency services drivers.
Texting with Stop Start Engine
- Thread starter Skully
- Start date
The legislators aren't in a tearing hurry to criminalise all hauliers, taxi drivers and emergency services drivers.
Did I say it was any less dangerous for them?
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,805
- Location
- Falling...
It doesn't bother as much as people who are flagrantly speaking on their phones and changing gears whilst driving. At least at 0mph you're less likely to kill someone. It's still naughty, but i've done it when stuck in a jam or a long queue. Not war and piece, just a quickie - doesn't make it right I know...
This does seem to be the perception, that even stationary its a danger. Can anyone explain how? I should point out that I do not consider "someone might crash in the back of you" a valid, or even relevant reason.
Associate
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 2,365
- Location
- Manchester
No you didn't, but the question still stands, what's good for the goose.....
Associate
- Joined
- 31 Dec 2004
- Posts
- 1,384
- Location
- Essex, UK
What's so fricking important that you have to endanger the lives of others (don't give a toss about the drivers doing it) by texting or speaking on the phone whilst driving, can't they just wait?
No it can't wait, its too hard to think about anyone else whilst on the phone speaking/texting to friends, they are more important.
Why do people think they can multi-task like this, when clearly they can't?
But I can multi-task, I am very good at it *crash*
No it can't wait, its too hard to think about anyone else whilst on the phone speaking/texting to friends, they are more important.
Why do people think they can multi-task like this, when clearly they can't?
But I can multi-task, I am very good at it *crash*
FYI - Thread is about texting while stationary
Sometimes legislation is drafted in such a way as to provide necessary concessions for pragmatic reasons. Besides, I'll bet that accident rates among emergency services drivers, taxi drivers and truckers are lower than other drivers at the best of times, so it's probably seen as a justifiable exception.
I wonder what the numbers are in the UK, here in Holland, Police cars are involved in ~9000 accidents every year ( or well, according to statistics from 2010). That is nearly 25 a day. ~43 civillians are injured by cop cars every year, and 1 death...
Considering they had 13.254 police vehicles ( cars+vans+bikes in 2007, so I reckon about 15000 in 2010), 9000 accidents per year ( 80% is one sided though, like them reversing into something) is quite a big number, more than the average driver has an accident.
So they are definitely more likely to have an accident than the average car.
I have not researched if there are numbers for the UK though, but I highly doubt they are less likely to have an accident.
Besides, CB radio's aren't just used by emergency services, taxi's, etc... Especially in Eastern Europe, they are popular to warn each other for speed traps and other things like accidents. You see a lot of cars with a massive antenna on top in the rural areas...
Something that hasn't made its way west yet, but still, I still think it's wrong banning mobile phones while driving...
Considering they had 13.254 police vehicles ( cars+vans+bikes in 2007, so I reckon about 15000 in 2010), 9000 accidents per year ( 80% is one sided though, like them reversing into something) is quite a big number, more than the average driver has an accident.
So they are definitely more likely to have an accident than the average car.
I have not researched if there are numbers for the UK though, but I highly doubt they are less likely to have an accident.
Besides, CB radio's aren't just used by emergency services, taxi's, etc... Especially in Eastern Europe, they are popular to warn each other for speed traps and other things like accidents. You see a lot of cars with a massive antenna on top in the rural areas...
Something that hasn't made its way west yet, but still, I still think it's wrong banning mobile phones while driving...
Last edited:
Texting/quick scan of your email etc. while sat at traffic lights etc. is not the same as barrelling along at 70Mph+ on the freeway texting is it?
I think one of the issues often forgotten is that the law has to be absolute, with no subjectivity. The problem with this is that at the fringes it can seem unfair?
As a side note I wonder if your assessment of threat gets worse or more acute as you get older? I used to be an avid sports biker - now I'm not. If you'd have asked me 10+ years ago if texting while driving would have bothered me, the answer would have been probably not*. Now? I won't text/call while driving. I don't know whether that's because I'm getting slower, more aware of the risks, or just becoming more aware of the reality of life (you think you're immortal when you're young), but the end game is I realise distraction is distraction.
It's risk assessment isn't it. I'd not forgive myself if I hurt someone cos I was texting to say yes I'm 5 mins late or no, that joke was ****.
Texting/scanning email while parked at traffic lights? Hardly the crime of the century, pretty sure I do the same thing constantly. While moving? No, not any more.
*Old phones with touch buttons I could text quite happily while still looking ahead.
I think one of the issues often forgotten is that the law has to be absolute, with no subjectivity. The problem with this is that at the fringes it can seem unfair?
As a side note I wonder if your assessment of threat gets worse or more acute as you get older? I used to be an avid sports biker - now I'm not. If you'd have asked me 10+ years ago if texting while driving would have bothered me, the answer would have been probably not*. Now? I won't text/call while driving. I don't know whether that's because I'm getting slower, more aware of the risks, or just becoming more aware of the reality of life (you think you're immortal when you're young), but the end game is I realise distraction is distraction.
It's risk assessment isn't it. I'd not forgive myself if I hurt someone cos I was texting to say yes I'm 5 mins late or no, that joke was ****.
Texting/scanning email while parked at traffic lights? Hardly the crime of the century, pretty sure I do the same thing constantly. While moving? No, not any more.
*Old phones with touch buttons I could text quite happily while still looking ahead.
As a side note I was up in Wales this weekend doing the triangle - we had walkie talkies between us.
At one point I was in the inside lane on a dual carriageway with a Police Astra doing exactly .3 mph faster than me in the outside lane.
I though nothing of using the Walkie Talkie? It was only when we stopped I thought about it.
At one point I was in the inside lane on a dual carriageway with a Police Astra doing exactly .3 mph faster than me in the outside lane.
I though nothing of using the Walkie Talkie? It was only when we stopped I thought about it.
In charge of a car, texting, even though stationary is dangerous. You are NOT aware of what is going on around you. You are more likely to be aware by using your mobile to speak to somebody rather than staring at the screen.
If I got caught, I'd expect a fine/points.
If I got caught, I'd expect a fine/points.
I think you need to learn how to extrapolate statistics properly, because your assumption is flawed.
Accidents per vehicle is less meaningful than accidents per miles travelled.
I haven't read the specific bit of legislation lately, but I seem to recall it's worded that it has to be a push to talk radio, so if you had it set to that, then you'd have been fine.
Yeah the regulation states that it does not apply to two way radios so he should have been OK.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/2695/regulation/2/made