More Death By Phone.....

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-39444331
When are they going to get serious with this mobile phone menace?

[EDDIE51]

I don't understand what happened. The story says he was legally using a hands free phone when the nature of the call made him lose control of the vehicle!

[EDDIE51]

He has got 5 years in jail and a 7 & 1/2 year driving ban so I think that is 'getting serious'
It is 6 points and a £200 fine for a first conviction of using a phone while driving now.

[mikey4444]

Eddie is right here....it was a legal use of his phone.

[New Judge]

Th emaximum sentence for using a hand held mobile phone is a fine of £1,000. This gentleman was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving for which the maximum sentence is 14 years custody.

[New Judge]

And that goes to demonstrate that because a phone is being used legally it does not mean that a charge of careless or dangerous driving cannot be brought. The mobile phone offence simply needs the use of the phone to secure a conviction. A poor standard of driving to accompany the use is not a requirement.

[Kromovaracun]

I forgot where I read it, but I remember a study which compared reaction times of drivers who were drunk, speaking on hands-free, speaking directly onto a mobile, listening to music, driving normally, and driving while talking to another person.

As I recall, the results suggested that the first three are all equally dangerous. Doesn't matter if you're using hands-free or a mobile in your hand - you are effectively operating with the reaction speed of a drunk driver (although to be fair the number of units you need to count as a drunk driver is very low in the UK). Furthermore, the last two are also equally dangerous - talking to another person in the car is just as safe as driving alone.

(I can't remember what the result was for music).

[ToraToraTora]

Eddie, leaving aside the sentence for this case I mean getting serious at stopping this. 12 month ban £1000 fine first offence etc. Also interesting that he was using hands free so I think we need to look at that too.

[Old_Geezer]

I think they need to use normal folk when testing hands free situations, instead of those who, apparently, would have trouble concentrating on walking and chewing gum at the same time.

[New Judge]

Yes it’s a matter not properly addressed by the legislation. The far greater danger is the brain power lost to conducting the conversation rather than the physical actions of holding the phone. A far greater danger then conversation is, of course, texting. Drivers caught texting or surfing the web should automatically be charged with dangerous driving.

People need to be weaned off their obsessive use of phones. Most of the conversations you hear are inane and unnecessary drivel and I imagine many texts are similar. To engage in such whilst driving deserves more than a paltry fine and six points.

[cassa333]

I think this case with the legal use of hands free phones is highlighting the fact that just because it is legal doesn't make it safe.

He was not concentrating on his driving enough to evade the danger in front of him. Ergo dangerous and/or careless driving.

[murraymints]

ANY use of a mobile while driving should be banned and punishable

[TWR]

I am not condoning this HGVs drivers actions "BUT" what about the company's that keep ringing the driver up & asking, How long will it be before your there, How far are you off, Will you be there on time, the driver has enough on his plate driving these things never mind answering something that he / she should not be doing, has the authorities ever checked the phone in-coming calls when an accident happens? I doubt it, if the driver does not answer the phone there's an enquire by his firm, it easy to blame the driver every time when in a "LOT OF CASES" It's not the drivers fault, again I stress, I DO NOT condone what this driver has done, I think it's about time that the person on the other end of these phone calls get fined, on the 3 point issue, £1000 + 1 year ban, if a call is made to the HGV Driver by their company, leave that up to the courts as they are very good for causing cockups.

[murraymints]

good point TWR...CB has been around for yonks with truckers too...

[TWR]

The rollocking I've had Murray for NOT answering the phone will make you laugh, but I got there safe. x u ok?

[murraymints]

fine ta TWR xx

[TWR]

To add, the CB days, what can you say only, you never ever seen / heard of accidents due to the CB it's this lunacy for "I have to answer the phone" "No you don't"

[murraymints]

cellulitis takes on a whole new meaning with phones nowadays ! it is an obsession/addiction for some...! switch it off for goodness sake !

[Baldric]

///driver has enough on his plate driving these things never mind answering something that he / she should not be doing///

He was using a 'Hands Free' phone which as far as I know is Legal.

[ToraToraTora]

TWR: "what about the company's that keep ringing the driver up & asking, How long will it be before your there" - then we have to address that too, truckers should be protected from their firms if they do not answer the phone and the firm should also be prosecuted as accessories for any incidents that do occur if they are the caller. From hands free to texting we have an enormous danger, far more serious than drink/drug driving that needs to be addressed. The Judge is correct we need to wean people off this dependency on phones.

[murraymints]

shouldn't be Balders...