driving instructor and phone

Jamie_Carter

Mojisola wrote: »

I expect someone teaching driving to have a higher than average standard of driving, even when not teaching. When my children were wanting to learn to drive, I started looking at the behaviour of driving school cars being driven by the trainer. I soon crossed off my list the ones who slipped through junctions as the lights turned red, were using their phones while driving, were breaking the speed limit and so on.

I was driving down the A1 last year, and a 'Red' driving school car (the company, not the colour) during the course of about 15 miles, tailgated several cars, undertook several cars, and broke the speed limit by at least 20mph. So I advised my daughter not to use them.

fart

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

You would be passionate about it if a friend or relative was killed by a learner driver who wasn't being properly supervised, wouldn't you??

Depends on the situation in which the above happened.

I personally have no problem with people talking on their phone. I see it as no different to talking to someone in the car except you've got a phone to your ear. Ok you've only got one hand on the wheel, but a lot of people drive with one hand on the wheel anyway, hardly anyone drives the rigid 'quarter to three' tripe you're taught in your lessons.

In the case of the driving instructor, what difference does him talking on the phone make? If he's still watching the road he can still use his duel-control to brake if necessary.

I can't think of a situation in which an instructor being on his phone is going to stop him from preventing the driver from an accident.

Mojisola

fart wrote: »

I personally have no problem with people talking on their phone. I see it as no different to talking to someone in the car except you've got a phone to your ear. Ok you've only got one hand on the wheel, but a lot of people drive with one hand on the wheel anyway, hardly anyone drives the rigid 'quarter to three' tripe you're taught in your lessons.

In the case of the driving instructor, what difference does him talking on the phone make? If he's still watching the road he can still use his duel-control to brake if necessary.

I can't think of a situation in which an instructor being on his phone is going to stop him from preventing the driver from an accident.
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I've seen tests done with people on simulators and, whatever is happening in the brain, their observation skills are reduced and their reaction time increased when they are on the phone - whether it's in their hand or hands-free.

Both are much worse than when they are talking to a person beside them.

Whether the instructor thinks it's a good law or not, breaking the law is terrible example to give to a learner and he's risking his job - not the kind of personality I would want teaching me!

Yolina

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

I was driving down the A1 last year, and a 'Red' driving school car (the company, not the colour) during the course of about 15 miles, tailgated several cars, undertook several cars, and broke the speed limit by at least 20mph. So I advised my daughter not to use them.

We have a lot of learners in my area (the Isle of Dogs being a fairly quiet part of London) from a whole bunch of different driving schools - it's not unusual to have a small train of them on the main road around the Isle, as well as 3 or 4 at the same time on my road practicing parking/ emergency stop/ 3 point turn etc.
No problem there, except that with my neighbours we've consistently noted that the ones from Red are a bit more, let's say erratic, than the others (seen one running a red light and another come out of a side road without slowing down at the give way then turning right and driving on the wrong side of the road for approx. 10m, etc) I appreciate that learners need to, well, learn and will make mistakes in the process, but it's a bit strange that it's always the cars from Red.

Jamie_Carter

fart wrote: »

Depends on the situation in which the above happened.

I personally have no problem with people talking on their phone. I see it as no different to talking to someone in the car except you've got a phone to your ear. Ok you've only got one hand on the wheel, but a lot of people drive with one hand on the wheel anyway, hardly anyone drives the rigid 'quarter to three' tripe you're taught in your lessons.

In the case of the driving instructor, what difference does him talking on the phone make? If he's still watching the road he can still use his duel-control to brake if necessary.

I can't think of a situation in which an instructor being on his phone is going to stop him from preventing the driver from an accident.

If you had been on numerous blue light runs, where some people seem to think that their phone call is more important than allowing room for an emergency vehicle, then you would know exactly what I mean. And you would change your view.

It is not the same as chatting to someone in the car with you. They can see if you are in a situation that needs your full attention, and so will expect a pause in the conversation.

You are 4x more likely to be involved in an RTC whilst using a mobile phone, than someone who is just over the drink drive limit.

Don't assume that you are superhuman, and can drive just the same. You can't.

fart

Mojisola wrote: »

Whether the instructor thinks it's a good law or not, breaking the law is terrible example to give to a learner and he's risking his job - not the kind of personality I would want teaching me!

But again, in what situation would him being on the phone prevent him from stopping the learner having an accident? I'm not being obtuse i genuinely can't think of one.

Mojisola

fart wrote: »

But again, in what situation would him being on the phone prevent him from stopping the learner having an accident? I'm not being obtuse i genuinely can't think of one.

That's worrying!

Focusing on the phone call reduces observational skills.

fart

Mojisola wrote: »

That's worrying!

Focusing on the phone call reduces observational skills.

Well i'm a driver of nearly ten years, with no history of an accident and i also have a full motorbike license, so i've got plenty of road experience.

Name some situations in which the instructor having a phone to his ear means he's unable to prevent the driver (after all, he's not driving, he's observing) from crashing.

Mojisola

fart wrote: »

Well i'm a driver of nearly ten years, with no history of an accident and i also have a full motorbike license, so i've got plenty of road experience.

Name some situations in which the instructor having a phone to his ear means he's unable to prevent the driver (after all, he's not driving, he's observing) from crashing.

But he won't be observing to the same level if he's having a conversation on the phone!

fart

Mojisola wrote: »

But he won't be observing to the same level if he's having a conversation on the phone!

Again, in the real world name a situation where the learner is so short sighted that only intervention by the instructor on the dual pedals can prevent the accident, and he himself is so distracted by his call that he fails to react in time?

In theory you're right, but in real world terms it's very, very unlikely that him answering his phone is going to cause or prevent anything.