Use a mobile when driving?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=11271995

Probably be banned here for scaring people too much - all I can say is 'well done Volkswagen'!

That's a very impressive piece of advertising that really gets the message over.

That is probably the most direct safety ad I've ever seen. Definitely should be shown in this country.
Still amazes me how many people you see obviously composing texts while driving. Scares the C**p out of me.

Talk today in press of 6 points for using mobile whilst driving

INSTANT BAN PLEASE, not based on points, or they'll do the 'i need to drive for work' crap.

you dont fire a shotgun while texting, but it seems ok to drive a ton of metal at 70mph?

i was recently towing a loaded 20ft trailer with a LWB Transit, so i know i'll have to anticipate more than a smaller vehicle, and take time to move and flow within the traffic.
sat inside lane with RHS indicator on for nearly a minute, when the mid lane car eventually came alongside, driver has phone in lap, texting. i let her pass, moved out once clear, then followed her. she did over three miles, then put phone on passenger seat and indicated to outside lane before speeding up to 80mph and pulling away...

it cant be just me witnessing these acts of stupidity?

I wonder if they could ban someone from any use of a mobile phone for say, 3 months, first offence, 6 months, second offence, a year for the third offence etc.

I feel that would have more impact than driving licence penalty points or fines. :yesnod:

The problems with leglislation start when you talk about "hands free" use of a mobile in a car!

Wat defines hands free, and how can it be enforced!

Both my cars have hands free, but I wouldnt define either as hands free (though one could be set has hands free!!!!!)

The one in my TF uses the radio as the hands free unit, but to make a call you still need to use the hand set (I dont do this!!!) to select the memory or dial the number.
Recieving a call still needs a button press on the radio head, and phone calls dont happen at the most convenient time when cruising down an empty motorway.

My other car, a company car, has an integrated hands free set-up, but unless I set it for fully voice activated use, is just as hands on as my TF unit!

Then you get into discussions about any phone conversation being distracting (usually much more so than a conversation with a passenger, because a passenger can judge if it is a good time to have a conversation or not) in its own right!

After missing my motorway junction, and finding myself driving up the middle lane of a motorway at 50mph during a work related conversation (On a hands free set), no longer answer or make calls while driving. Its just not worth it!

In my opinion no mobile phone should be used, under any condition, if the car is moving. Who ever thought mobile phones and cars were a good combination has a lot to answer for.

Alas the law at the moment is a mess, unclear, and unenforceable.

Just take away their licence - they don't deserve it. People have been killed by drivers texting or using a mobile. It's against the law, it's stupid - those that do it are fully aware of this so points (3 or 6) are not enough as they send out the message that you could get caught and still be allowed to drive - why?

The most stupid use of a mobile I've witnessed was my one time boss driving to work who phoned me in the office (mainly to show off his new toy in the car)....it went very quiet then he said he'd missed the turn off to our building. My reply was along the lines that if he was that close to the office (2 minutes) wouldn't it be easier to have a conversation face to face....on the otherhand I was looking for promotion so if he wanted to kill himself on his 10 minute drive to the office that would be fine with me. Strangely this remark had the opposite effect on my career.

Richard

PS - if I see anyone using a mobile I just hold down my horn button - hopefully it is loud enough that the person at the other end of the conversation hears it.

See plenty of drivers round the town on their phones, but the best (worst?) one I saw was a police car, 4 cops in it, & the driver texting as she was moving along with the queue of traffic.

Other guys weren't even interested.