Drive Aware Course (Mobile Phone)

Bogof_Babe

Why not just put your phone on silent when you get behind the steering wheel of a car? You won't be tempted then.

Richard53

Daz2009 wrote: »

I've never understand the need to answer a ringing phone while you're driving.So,you'll miss the call.So what ?As soon as you stop .....pull over if it's safe to do so if you are impatient,remembering to turn the ignition off else the plod can still do you...you'll see who's rung you and you can ring them back.SAFELY !
Keep the phone in your pocket/handbag whichever suits

Mine goes in the pocket of a jacket, in the boot, switched off. No temptation at all then. I'll check it when I next stop and answer anything urgent. There is surely nothing in the world that is urgent enough to have to answer while piloting 1½ tonnes of metal down a motorway or through a city centre.

jase1 wrote: »

A recent Mythbusters episode ascertained that it's just as dangerous to hold a conversation on hands-free as it is with the phone to your ear. It's the distraction caused by having to think about two things at once that causes the danger rather than the physical act of holding a phone while driving.

The implication of that would be that holding a conversation with a passenger, or having screaming sprogs in the back of the car is just as bad.

I've seen that research, and it makes sense. However, there is a big difference between having a phone conversation with someone and talking to a passenger. It's all about context. The passenger is there with you and sees what you see. If there is a roundabout or some hazard, you can stop the conversation and the passenger will know why. Someone in your office a hundred miles away, or your spouse discussing a shopping list, won't know what is happening. We don't like silences, so the temptation is to keep the conversation going, even though your attention is needed for the driving task in hand. I have used CB radio a lot, and it is not the same as a phone - I think because it is a simplex transmission, and silences are quite common, and expected. I imagine it is the same for professional drivers like the police, who seem to be able to use the radio and drive without any issues.

robbies_gal wrote: »

here s a tip

dont do it

Exactly. It's possible to make a decision not to drink and drive, and it is also possible to make a decision not to have access to your mobile phone while driving too.


(Also - a quick phone call is one thing, but texting? Updating your Facebook page? What planet are these people on?)

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

It's worth bearing in mind that the legislation is a bit out of date - the handsfree idea was from a long time ago when people hadn't considered the distraction. Of course you still can use CB radio but I guess that is casual wittering rather than business calls and there weren't that many people using them.

I don't think the legislation has caught up with the current understanding that people essentially do not multi-task but they do a bit of one thing, then a bit of another, and the time to switch from one to another can be quite long, and sometimes the brain really isn't interested in switching.

The reality is that we at times are very easily distracted, I've caught myself deep in thought about something and realised that I am not at all focused on driving. You can't legislate against the risks of daydreaming, just the results (being observed driving without due care and attention) and I think the reality is that eventually the Government will have to bite the bullet and ban mobile phone use full stop. Enforcing the ban will be unlikely, so all they can do is do what they do with seatbelts and invest in education rather than relying on the police and make the penalty for having an accident while on the phone fairly draconian.

Sooler

ab1982 wrote: »

...What can I expect?

Enlightenment :A

Sooler

ilikewatch wrote: »

Free coffee and tea, no biscuits, ...

No biscuits! You were diddled.

lister

ab1982 wrote: »

I wonder if it’s a generational thing, I’d love to say I would but I just wouldn't ignore a ringing phone, its counter-intuitive to me.

In modern parlance - Really! You are happy to let your life be ruled by the noise of a crappy little electronic device. That is a really depressing and sad reflection of today's society.

My phone is my livelihood as a driving instructor, and even at home it is on silent and almost never answered unless it is someone calling me back and who is expected. No-one has the right to expect my immediate attention and I certainly don't want to encourage the expectation.

I don’t feel like I don’t concentrate when on hands-free, maybe not on the conversation but certainly ok with driving.

Right there is your problem - 'I don't feel like I don't concentrate' - it is a self-reinforcing mistake. Every time you do it and all is ok, it reinforces your sense that it is safe. Only once something happens (hopefully only a near miss), and it is abundantly clear to you that it was the phone conversation that meant you were less aware will you modify your behaviour.

I have work colleagues who make a list of calls they need to make from the car on their commute.

Again - what a sad thing. No-one needs to make calls on their commute. They choose to. I choose not to even though I usually have a mountain of calls to return.

I don't generally talk to passengers very much at all either, and won't use a sat nav for the same reasons, both mean my driving is not 100%.

Richard53

lister wrote: »

In modern parlance - Really! You are happy to let your life be ruled by the noise of a crappy little electronic device. That is a really depressing and sad reflection of today's society.

I carry a mobile for my benefit, no-one else's. My iphone is well trained, and switches itself to silent without asking me. I don't mind at all. Or perhaps my life is so dull that I don't need to keep speaking to people every five minutes.

lister wrote: »

I don't generally talk to passengers very much at all either, and won't use a sat nav for the same reasons, both mean my driving is not 100%.

Now there I disagree. I find a satnav is a great aid to safe driving on a long or unfamiliar journey, by taking away the need to navigate, leaving my eyes free to observe and my hands free to drive the car

ab1982

I call bull on the "i dont talk to passengers" thing.

Moto2

ab1982 wrote: »

I call bull on the "i dont talk to passengers" thing.

Must have some very entertaining journeys

Mind you, those drivers that insist on looking at whoever they're talking to are a bit frightening.

Clive_Woody

Sooler wrote: »

No biscuits! You were diddled.

Are you allowed to take your own biscuits just in case they aren't provided?