How many people would support a petition against mobiles

jewjew · Post by **jewjew** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 2:25 pm

How many people would support a mandatory 3 month licence suspension for handheld mobile phone use in a car?

It has been proven that handheld mobile phone use causes a severe reduction in concentration, and all phones purchased today come with at least one form of hands free kit, we have all had someone on a mobile cut us off or nearly hit us, would be a good revenue raiser for the government without hurting us riders and would make our day's much safer.

With that in mind, how many would support a petition for it?

Rossi · Post by **Rossi** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:42 pm

FYI
using a hands free kit while driving distracts just as much as holding the thing to your ear.
Where I work, the making or receiving of telephone calls whether hands free or not while driving is punished with instant dismissal, its about time the government took the facts seriously

Daisy · Post by **Daisy** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:16 pm

Rossi wrote:FYI
using a hands free kit while driving distracts just as much as holding the thing to your ear.

I disagree. I use mine a lot, and as far as I'm concerned the phone is secondary to controlling the vehicle. It's just the same as talking to a passenger in the car - and IMO - less dangerous and distracting than talking to passengers while pressing buttons on the stereo.
I agree that using a handheld is bad mmmkay. But so are a lot of things that people do in cars whilst driving with one hand. I followed some bint the other day (in the obligatory Corolla) who spent most of the time with her right arm dangling out the window, except when she wanted to look in her purse, or fix her hair in the mirror, or change hands so she could turn around and chastise the toddler in the back seat - all the while weaving from the centre line into the bike lane and back. Thank christ her phone didn't ring.

It's like most things while driving/riding. Some of us can do two or more things at once. I don't think we should be penalised because other people can't.

Post by **Wattie** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:24 pm

in nsw they were trying to ban the use of phones all together for P platers. even banning them from using handsfree systems while driving.

JetPilot · Post by **JetPilot** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:34 pm

Sending a text message is far worse than just talkin on a mobile.
Hands free kits are just like talkin to somebody in the car.
I dont know how many times ive seen stupid driving with someone talkin
on the bloody phone.
Its just like driving drunk!! Suspension for 3 months might make them sit up and take a good hard look at the dangers.

They all should HTFU.

Barrabob · Post by **Barrabob** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:44 pm

I saw someone sending a text while driving in stop start traffic down the freeway the other day and all the cars that have cut me off while using the phone because they didnt see me because they where looking at their phones have been male so far which proves that males dont mutitask as well as females right daisy.

They made me wear dayglow green shirts at the new place i work aka the transport industry and they seem a good idea and i must get to a workwear place and invest a dayglo vest with reflective tape all over it to wear over the top of my wets.

its not enough that the idiots cant see you because they arent paying attention to the job at hand (driving) you have do your bit to make sure its easier for them to see you as well.

smek · Post by **smek** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:52 pm

Studies have shown that talking on the phone requires more concentration than talking to someone who is actually present. This is due to you missing out on all the extra little indications people give that aid you in putting the conversation together.

jewjew · Post by **jewjew** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:35 pm

I think in the current environment it would be near impossible and almost stupid to try and ban mobiles altogether and i don't think banning p platers will work either, i have to have my phone on all the time for work but i always use a handsfree kit of some sort. I find if you are not holding the phone it is easier to look straight ahead and gives you a little more concentration, while if you are holding the phone, it is more like when you are at home, you just fade out a little and relax. I have found people with bluetooth sets on tend to look out for you a little better than the people with their hands up to their ears blocking the field of vision if they do need to make a mirror or head check.

Daisy, if you can do it great but most of us can't which is where the problem lies. You may be fantastic and able to multitask like no-one else on earth but i am sick of near misses every morning because there are other people out there who think they can multitask as well as you.

Shifty · Post by **Shifty** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:19 pm

Telephone interlock, similar to the alcohol one. Phone must be locked in the glovebox or the car won't run

Daisy · Post by **Daisy** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:54 pm

jewjew wrote:Daisy, if you can do it great but most of us can't which is where the problem lies. You may be fantastic and able to multitask like no-one else on earth but i am sick of near misses every morning because there are other people out there who think they can multitask as well as you.

This goes to my other pet hate. Most of these people can't drive in the first place. Like the cow in the Corolla. As I said, handheld is bad, but all this talk of banning phones or preventing P platers from using them isn't going to fix the underlying problem.
I use my car for deliveries. I have to concentrate on driving first and on which delivery goes where second. If the phone rings while I'm doing that it's just bad luck for the person calling. I will talk to them, but they have to do all the concentrating - and repeat themselves a lot.

Blue14 · Post by **Blue14** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:11 pm

Never forget the motorbike rider texting on his mobile riding over the westgate..

And thats no bullshit, i was in total shock.. As for banning mobiles, huge call that..

Neka79 · Post by **Neka79** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:17 pm

Blue14 wrote:Never forget the motorbike rider texting on his mobile riding over the westgate.. And thats no bullshit, i was in total shock.. As for banning mobiles, huge call that..

i had a mate who use to do that, and i kno a few girls who text whilst riding pillion...

jewjew · Post by **jewjew** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:49 pm

they are already banned though, no-one takes it seriously though. In nsw there is a $500.00 on the spot fine for handheld mobile use, but it doesn't seem to stop anyone. I am just calling for a harsher penalty so people will take it more seriously and use their headsets/bluetooth/car kit

Post by **Wattie** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:14 pm

i have texted while riding a my bike...

stupid i know.

i wasnt on city roads but....

rocco · Post by **rocco** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:42 pm

i agree 100%

why?

Some dumb little bi$#ch was trying to get around a roundabout in a little manual hatchback trying to drive and hold the mobile...it was a mess to see her slowly trying to get around.

Today down our street this girl drove past in her car head down as she was smsing at the same time......would love to see if someone was pulling out of driveway at same time and she was still smsing

the funny thing is i drove past a boy in blue as he was havin a good ole chat and a laugh while driving on his mobile from what i could see. safe=no!

seems to be more teenagers getting into the habit.

car kits are a bit safer as you in theory have more control over your vehicle with both hands but still people listen to music full pelt and they are in a trance with it too.

I think at the end of the day they should allow car kits but ban the users physically holding a phone whilst driving.

my 2 cents worth