I have to say that if there is one thing that really does annoy me very much, its people on mobiles while driving. Bluetooth’s do not cost much while hands-free kits come with some phones now a days. I cannot understand, if indeed this is true, employers not insisting on their employees using these while driving.
Over the last 2 days I have seen some really stupid people driving and on their mobiles.
Yesterday, while outside Merchants Quay shopping Centre, I saw a women pull out of the car park. Those that know this car park know that you are moving into 3 lanes of traffic. She was on her mobile, using the other free hand to both steer and change gear and had 3 little children in the back of the car. Sometimes you just feel like knocking on the window and saying something to them. I just wish I had my camera to record it.
Today I was driving on the roads on the Great Island heading from Cobh into the city. On the back roads of the island I saw two trucks – one was a white delivery truck and the other a construction truck – driving very slowly up hill and keeping a line of traffic behind them. This is not unusual on this hill but both drivers where on their mobiles and therefore not able to change gear and move faster.
Then this afternoon I saw someone else on their mobile driving uphill behind a driver in an area where there are roadworks and a driver may have to brake at any time.
I do feel that this is an area where the Garda need to put a bit more focus as mobiles really cause problems. A few months back, while driving to work one morning, I witnessed a driver move along at around the 100KM speed limit. Without warning he suddenly braked down to around 50KM and when I passed him I noticed that he was looking down at his mobile phone. Luckily there was no one behind him.
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Its more major now than before they brought the law in. All types of drivers seems to be guilty of not being able to resist the ringing phone while driving.
A major thing we see quite frequently on the roads of Dublin city and we have more stormtroopers (motorcycle cops) on patrol than anywhere else.
The bluetooth earpiece is very cheap for the basic model, so get shopping.
I have to agree – people using mobile phones while driving really gets my goat too and has caused more than a few problems in my experience (one in particular being documented on this site).
I must also re-iterate that this site does not condone the use of a mobile phone, whether for making/taking calls or for taking pictures while driving.
On the subject of moble phones I would like to put this point out for discussiion. The ban on using mobile phones while driving was introduced as a safety measure and rightly so. My problem with the law as it stands is that Gardai and emergency personnel are not covered by this law. I was recently on the N11 on the Arklow by-pass section when I spotted a car speeing up behind me. I was doing 100km and this guy passed me doing approx 130-140km. As he passed me I noted that it was an marked Garda car, with the driver (about 24 or 25)on his mobile, with one hand on the wheel.
What makes a young Garda, with 4 or 5 years driving experience, a safer driver than me or anyone else while on the phone?. The Government has enough cash to fit hands free kits to all Garda cars.
How would anyone feel if their child or loved one was knocked down by a Garda car while the driver was on his phone? If the rules are to make our roads safer they should apply to everyone. A Garda in persuit of lawbreakers while on the phone, is just as dangerous as anyone else who drives if talking on a mobile. I raisd this issue with the Dept of Transport when the law on mobiles was introduced, but got no reply – surprise, surprise.
Using a handset while diving is dangerous. That is obvious – you are without the use of one hand and you are concentration is divided between the conversation and driving. It is also illegal.
What many of do not appreciate is that using a hands-free set is equally distracting. Yes, you have both hands free but you are distracted by a two way conversation.
This is not like listening to a radio which is a passive activity. A one way conversation if you will.
Holding a conversation with a front seat passenger is active and therefore a distraction. However, it is less dangerous in that in the passenger tends to see the same things as the driver. If they see a potentially dangerous situation arising they will either stop speaking abruptly or shout a warning. This interruption will not happen during a hands free phone call.
There is quite a lot of research to prove this. I will try dig out the scientific references and cite them when I get time.
Most of equate a hand free conversation with one with a passenger. They are dangerously different.
Very interesting point. Also, have you noticed how most people using hands-free kits tend to keep looking down to where their phone is, as if they were looking at the person they are talking to ? They are constantly taking their eyes off the road & are certainly not giving 100% concentration to what they are doing. The same applies to lighting up a cigarette, changing a CD etc., It only takes a second for an accident to happen.
I can’t find the particular reference I wanted but there is some good material available if you search “inattention blindness cell phone” or “cell phone versus passenger conversation” on scholar.google.com. All very academic, but you will get the gist by reading the first section (the abstract) of each.
primalsneeze said: Using a handset while diving is dangerous.
Yes, of course, the water would could destroy the handset.
Ok, I know it was a mis-spelling… I couldn’t resist!)
Fek ya, Niallok! I’ll run you off the road the next … hold on – can’t say that here.
Anyway it’s true. Using a handset while diving is likely to distract your attention from the air gauge and sharks.
I think the ban on mobile phones is only right.
You don’t have all your hands and you are distracted.
Therefore I use a headset. I look like a dork, but I’ve got my hands free.
My problem is when it comes to the fact that a 2 way conversation is distracting.
I’m not debating the fact that, yes, it can be. But I’m arguing the fact that you would have to ban conversations with your passengers as well. Or all talking inside the vehicle when in motion.
That includes breaking up rows with your kids and telling them that for every “are we there yet” you have to pull over to answer.
If we ban talking on a phone, even with a handsfree kit or headset, we must ban all conversation with the driver in the car as well.
We also must ban operating the radio, heat and fan controls, scratching ourselves, sneezing (you could be with your eyes closed for up to 50 meters depending on your speed, unacceptable!), eating, drinking, smoking, yawning, farting sideways, getting distracted by your genitals (or someone else’s) and we must also strictly monitor the drivers mind to make sure his thoughts don’t wander (brainpolice)
Before long we’ll be strapped into our seats with a camera pointing at our face that’s linked to Guarda HQ where your own, dedicated Sergeant will monitor your every move. your hands will be tied to the wheel and your genitals wired up and you will receive frequent shocks to make sure you’re alert.
I agree that people should not drive while balancing a phone on their shoulder while shaving and having a bowl of muesli, but we must be careful not to go overboard.
Britain being a good example where thousands where spent to catch a woman -wait for it- EATING AN APPLE! The fiend! i hope she rots in jail!
The thousands spent on ground surveillance units and helicopters where surely wisely spent.
Don’t believe me? here it is:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_kmafp/is_200501/ai_n13262463
The type of converstions between a driver and a passanger and a driver and someone on the phone can be quite different. I’ve seen people trying to have a business meeting by phone while driving – making decisions, setting dates and prices. This is very different to light chat with a passanger. It has also been pointed out that a passanger is still another pair of eyes on the road.