Caught on the phone while driving

Strider590

OddballJamie wrote: »

Most people have their satnavs on the dash or windscreen.

Looking between your legs to see how fast you're going doesn't seem all that safe.

Buying a phone holder/mount would be a good idea. Proclip do a good range to fit Vectras with no holes needed, just clips between the gaps of your dash.

Well the missus doesn't seem to mind :rotfl:


Just to clarify, I run a OBDII logging app, I never said I stare at it, it sits on the drivers seat because there is nowhere else that I deem safe enough to stop a £350 mobile phone from taking a flying lesson.

I don't text or talk on my phone when driving, I don't even check my emails.

Avoriaz

Bantex wrote: »

Why do people not just get a cheap hands free kit. Costs about 20 quid from amazon and could save your driving license.

Costs about 20 quid from amazon and could save [STRIKE]your driving license[/STRIKE] a life.

OddballJamie

Strider590 wrote: »

Well the missus doesn't seem to mind :rotfl:


Just to clarify, I run a OBDII logging app, I never said I stare at it, it sits on the drivers seat because there is nowhere else that I deem safe enough to stop a £350 mobile phone from taking a flying lesson.

I don't text or talk on my phone when driving, I don't even check my emails.

"I do run my OBDII scanner app to keep an eye on my true speed, fuel consumption and to log errors from the ECU to give me an early warning of future repairs."

£350 phone and too cheap to buy a phone holder. Priceless.

Quentin

Strider590 wrote: »

As for the time frame, 2 weeks applies to offences like speeding, for offences like "driving without due care", the time frame is 6 months, BUT it's 6 months from the time that the offence has been processed.....

No.


Pity the poor OP has to put up with poor advice on top of all the sermon preachers!

The "2 weeks" is nothing to do with the type of offence.

It is the time frame for issuing a NIP.

Thus if you are stopped for anything (including speeding/using your phone) by the police and informs you that you are being reported for possible prosecution (as in the OP) then they have the 6 months to put the papers into court after which the court issues a summons.

(The 2 weeks for a NIP through the post only comes into it when you are not notified at the time of the incident)

Strider590

OddballJamie wrote: »

"I do run my OBDII scanner app to keep an eye on my true speed, fuel consumption and to log errors from the ECU to give me an early warning of future repairs."

£350 phone and too cheap to buy a phone holder. Priceless.

Why must every thread on this forum turn into a troll fest?

FYI, I have a mobile holder, that's how my last phone ended up in pieces. For the sake of keeping my phone intact and not having a power lead trailing across the dash, it sits on my seat, where it is least in the way (it's a 5 inch screen), but most able to perform it's current function.

DUTR

Strider590 wrote: »

Why must every thread on this forum turn into a troll fest?

FYI, I have a mobile holder, that's how my last phone ended up in pieces. For the sake of keeping my phone intact and not having a power lead trailing across the dash, it sits on my seat, where it is least in the way (it's a 5 inch screen), but most able to perform it's current function.

You are aware the offence is for using the mobile device, whether it be talk, text, email, sat nav or other apps.
Having anything in the car loose , is a hazard if the car comes to a sudden stop for any reason.

phona

Avoriaz wrote: »

Costs about 20 quid from amazon and could save [STRIKE]your driving license[/STRIKE] a life.

Hands-free kits do not save lives.
There isn't much mechanically difficult about holding a phone and steering a car at the same time. It's not even particularly troubling to change gear. This should mean driving, particularly on motorways for example, with a phone is safe.
In fact, the danger is the conversation itself. The human brain has very limited amounts of attention to give, and conversations take up a lot of it. Even simple activities can be halted by having to use attention elsewhere - try walking down the street saying the 18 times table and you'll probably stop walking. The net result is you can look right at an oncoming vehicle and not see it. This is an example of inattentional blindness.

The law misunderstands this aspect of psychology and allows use of hands-free kits; expecting accidents are called by physical and not psychological limitations. In fact, any use of phones while driving should be banned.

What about passengers? Should all conversations be banned?
Actually, passengers share your context. When you approach a busy roundabout, you and your passenger both stop talking. They understand, unprompted, that you need to focus on the road. On a phone though, the social pressures are different. On the other end of a phone, they have no idea why you've suddenly stopped talking and you feel sub-consciously obliged to continue.

Just my £0.02.

Iceweasel

DUTR wrote: »

You are aware the offence is for using the mobile device, whether it be talk, text, email, sat nav or other apps.
Having anything in the car loose , is a hazard if the car comes to a sudden stop for any reason.

I agree - using an OBD scanner would be no problem - but this is a 'mobile device' with an OBD app.

Even if you were to consider it an OBD scanner with a built in phone that doesn't get round the rules.

And having it on the seat between your legs is likely to be a possible alternative to having a vasectomy.

RichardD1970

Iceweasel wrote: »

I agree - using an OBD scanner would be no problem - but this is a 'mobile device' with an OBD app.

Even if you were to consider it an OBD scanner with a built in phone that doesn't get round the rules.

And having it on the seat between your legs is likely to be a possible alternative to having a vasectomy.

Well, every cloud ......:D

Robisere

I never answer any calls when I am driving, even if I had a phone mount I still would not answer, the conversation alone is distracting. I ask my wife or anyone else in the car with me, to answer. If alone, I wait until it's safe to turn off the road and call back the last number. Whoever it is, can wait, but the one thing that does annoy me is when I have turned off and stopped, I find it's a nonsense call or text, from someone selling PPI solutions, or the Service Provider offering me a new phone.

OP, I hope you found your answer, I share the opprobrium of others about people using mobile phones whilst driving, but that is not what you asked about. Give the guy a break people, if you were in the middle of a similar situation, would you refuse a way out if it was presented to you? Of course not.

It is an illegal practice, just like speeding, of which I was once found guilty and for which I held my hands up and paid the price. How many of the "Holier than Thou" brigade posting here, have been guilty of something? Would you have refused a way out? Thought so....

EDIT: I typed this before I saw phona's post, completely agree.

I know someone who listens to audiobooks whilst driving, I can see an inattention problem there. I have music playing, either radio or CD, but very low and in the background. But listening to a story would divide my attention, I believe that might be dangerous. The speed, density and complexity of traffic today, requires constant, undivided attention and concentration, IMO.