MoreThan phone call policies

Jordanderve

Came off a very bizarre call with MoreThan earlier. I travel a lot with work and have in car hands free. Dialing a number is voice activated etc etc.

Anyhow, I called MoreThan and said hello to be begin with. Are you driving? Rather abrupt but I replied yes and said that the phone was on hands free. The agent then replies, I'll have to terminate the call.

I enquired why? I was told (rather patronisingly) that talking is a distraction. I asked if she talks to passengers in her car...this resulted in the shutters going up and the lady told me that it was against the law for her to speak to me on hands free!!!!

I instantly challenged why all car manufacturers install equipment which promoted 'illegal' activity for it to be determined that it is just a MoreThan policy. No broken laws.
Once discovered, it was not a problem and I pulled over but the whole episode was a very bizarre experience to say the least. I travel a lot and deal with a lot of calls via hands free and hope that this attitude doesn't become a trend amongst companies.

Has anyone else encountered this?

Tigsteroonie

My employers have recently introduced a policy of "no mobile calls while driving, even via handsfree device". There are some studies that show that concentrating on the call is a distraction to driving. [NB - I'm not saying that I agree]

Jordanderve

I really hope it doesn't catch on as where does it stop? No talking to passengers, no satnavs (possibly more dangerous that mobiles as you squint to see the keys), no drinks, no car sweets etc etc. at some point, drivers should be held accountable for their driving not the causes of what affects that driving as each person is different. Just frustrating.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Not my advise

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/legal-advice/mobile-phones.html

My employer has a strict no call when driving policy. As for the question about talking to passengers, they can see where you drive and correct your attention, if it is needed.

Tigsteroonie

Jordanderve wrote: »

no satnavs (possibly more dangerous that mobiles as you squint to see the keys)

You re-programme your satnav while driving? Personally, I set it up before I leave; and if it needs re-programming en route, I will stop to do so. To me it's more distracting than using a phone as I am less accustomed to the menu system etc.

Geodark

Jordanderve wrote: »

I really hope it doesn't catch on as where does it stop? No talking to passengers, no satnavs (possibly more dangerous that mobiles as you squint to see the keys), no drinks, no car sweets etc etc. at some point, drivers should be held accountable for their driving not the causes of what affects that driving as each person is different. Just frustrating.

Setting a satnav while driving? are you really that busy on the road that you can't pull over and do it? As someone has said previously set it before you set out.

As for the call centre not talking to you while driving - there are many companies that have this as a policy - and I think it is a damn good one. If a person is in the car with you they can see what is happening on the road, someone on the phone can't - concentration level are not the same.

forgotmyname

Some types of calls can be very distracting. Once during a call sorting my tasks out for the next day i had covered approx 20 miles and couldnt remember any of the journey....

Obviously on autopilot with a route i knew very well and gave way at the correct moments etc. So still driving safely. BUT no recall of the journey where normally i would have remembered certain cars at a junction etc..

People vary though.. My concentration on the driving was still acceptable but it obviously limited my memory recall on that journey.
I know some people that forget where the road is whilst changing gear.

trukdiver

Jordanderve wrote: »

I really hope it doesn't catch on as where does it stop? No talking to passengers,

Passengers can see when you need to concentrate, so that isn't a problem.

Jordanderve wrote: »

no drinks, no car sweets etc etc.

No drinking while driving? What's wrong with that?

Jordanderve wrote: »

no satnavs (possibly more dangerous that mobiles as you squint to see the keys),

Trying to program anything while driving would mean you taking your hand off the steering wheel and you wouldn't be concentrating on driving - just like using a phone without a hands free. Mine gives a warning not to use it while the vehicle is moving.

Jordanderve

Ha, have to laugh at some of the political correctness of some of these responses. My main point is, there are many, many distractions within a vehicle which theoretically cause distractions. In car hands free devices are legally sound devices which are authorised by every necessary body. If drivers who use hands free pose such a risk, insurance premiums would rise for drivers who use them.

I poorly phrased the satnav point as I do not program it whilst driving. However, when in an unfamiliar environment, trying to follow a satnav (particularly in a city centre where multiple lanes come into play), is a significant distraction as you are looking at a screen instead of the road.

All of the latest cars are getting more and more sophisticated which provide drivers with varied and wide options, many of which are touch screens. Even changing a radio station these days can lead to a distraction.

As for passengers highlighting dangers, come on, a passenger can be a child sat in the back of a car, do you not talk to them? An elderly relative who hasn't the necessary observational skills to drive a car. What if children are misbehaving in the back? Not a distraction? Music turned up loudly, not a distraction? Spilling a drink whilst driving has caused many crashes (particularly hot drinks).

It is madness, it really is and if one thing is deemed a distraction so many other things could possible come into play. I am not saying that using a mobile phone (without hands free) should be legal at all

Now, companies who send drivers out on the road changing policy to say 'don't use hands free', that is a different matter as some people may not be comfortable using hands free and feel pressurised by their organisation or colleagues to do so. However, if I chose to make a call, on a system which is legal and authorised by the various insurance bodies, no organisation should impose whether I am able to use that or not.

Sooler

trukdiver wrote: »

No drinking while driving? What's wrong with that?

Pipped: Woman driver fined for eating apple
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-335291/Pipped-Woman-driver-fined-eating-apple.html

What can you do while driving?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4788910.stm

Fruitcake

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

My employers have recently introduced a policy of "no mobile calls while driving, even via handsfree device". There are some studies that show that concentrating on the call is a distraction to driving. [NB - I'm not saying that I agree]

My lot have done the same, as well as introduced time limits for starting/finishing journeys where a taxi is needed outside these limits.