Driving on the phone.

[au350hp]

I was talking to a Ford enthusiast the other day who mentioned that like me, he was also hit by a driver on a phone resulting in his car, like mine, been written off. We both also know one other person this has happened to in the last 12 months. So, to tally up, that is four older Ford's in great cond with a lot invested in them all written off by irresponsible drivers who believe their entitled to use a phone whilst driving. How many others know of this happening recently to themselves or someone they know? What is it going to take for people to take driving seriously?

[Maka]

Drivers who are visibly on their phone while driving is my one pet hate while driving, i see all sorts doing it when out & about..

Is there a app yet that alerts the police that someone is on the phone while driving, it would probably fix the economy if there was...lol!

cheers, Maka

[Itsme]

Until mobile phones is banned from society I cannot see peoples attitude changing using phones while driving!!!

[jpd80]

in my part of the world texting while driving is even worse, people cannot put down their phones.

And where i am, it's illegal to even touch your phone while driving, let alone put it to your ear or text.
We even have surveillance cameras at traffic lights that look down on cars and catch drivers on their phones.
Officers on police motorcycles have helmet cams to catch drivers on their phones and stuff..

I just use Siri paired to my car's radio, works like a treat and totally legal
so there's no excuse for people not using a hands free kit.

[Rallye Sport]

I worked with a bloke that I would have said was a pretty good driver, no worries holding a physical two way conversation and could drive all manner of heavy machinery, tractors, loaders, graders, trucks etc but put him on the hands free in a Falcon ute and he'd drive oblivious though red arrows, stop and give way signs.
The technology is out there to block phones in cars but the emphasis is on the tech to use them behind the wheel. We looked at a new car for the mrs a while back and the first thing the dealer did was spruke the connectivity abilities it had. He even had his phone sync'ed in and tried to take a call while we were test driving.

[aussiblue]

I've been hit 8 times in the last 20 years by people on mobiles while stopped at lights or stop signs. Three times where I was in a queue and the car behind me was pushed into mine by someone on a mobile. It all cases I had been stationary for some time so not sudden stops by the victims was involved; offenders on phones simply sailing along at the speed limit or oblivious to what was in front of them. I hate people who do this. Then there is this: https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/six...unity-service/

[commodorenutt]

2 of my colleagues had the same thing happen to their own vehicles. One was the wife of one of the guys, who works at a high school, hit by a student from the same school. She watched him in the rear view mirror, head looking in his lap when he hit - no attempt to brake. He denied he was on the phone to the cops, but a day later one of his passengers (also a student) told her he was sending an SMS, and agreed to be a witness.

I can sit at traffic lights, and out of 4-5 cars where I can see the driver, at least 3 of them will be on the phone - not talking, browsing facebook, or typing messages. It's disgusting how they think nobody will notice them looking down, and holding up a queue at a green light. At least twice on every commute I have to honk someone caught up on their phone screen, instead of looking at a green light. And don't they get ****ty about it.

I was in the '28 Chev in Gunnedah last October, following a young moron wandering all over the road, and clipping 2 of the roundabouts in the main street. His driving was that bad I thought he was drunk. It would drift over towards parked cars & then reef arcross to the centre again. Got to the lights, right near the cop shop, and he went in the right turn bay. I pulled up beside him, to see his phone in his left hand, resting on the console, typing an SMS. I yelled out (his LH window was down) to get off the f-ing phone, and you should have heard the tirade of abuse out of him. A bloody green P-plater who isn't even allowed to be on a hands free call!!!

Ph****ers (as we call them at work) are easy to spot on the freeway - doing 80km/h in the 100 zone with no-one around them holding them up, drifting across the lane until they hit the audible lines, then they over-correct back into the lane, and repeat it agaon 5-10 seconds later.

The cops on motorbikes will lane split at red lights, and carefully check each car they pass for phone use - I think it's great when they do it. I've seen 3 people get pinged at the lights at Norwest & Windsor road in the last 12 months - 2 of them P-platers too.
There should be more of them doing it to stamp out the rampant disease.

[blackf6]

I use my phone while driving. And will continue to do so. It is not illegal. Hands free and bluetoothed.

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by blackf6

I use my phone while driving. And will continue to do so. It is not illegal.

I read that then seen your avatar before finishing your post and thought ''*&^& me dead''

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by blackf6

I use my phone while driving. And will continue to do so. It is not illegal. Hands free and bluetoothed.

^^ Agree with bluetooth and a voice call. Voice dialling is great too - no need to even touch it to make a call. 100% legal. I am the same.
Even though I do use bluetooth for voice calls whilst driving - I give precedence to what's happening on the road, even if I go quiet (or loud) or appear to be ignoring the person on the call for a short period. I've done nearly 450,000km commuting in the last 10 years, and the only accident I've had is when a skip-bin truck lost it's load & damaged my car (whilst I was on the phone I might add - on a voice call).


My post above is only referring to people using their phones, in their hands, looking at the screens. ie, text messaging, scrolling facebook, status updates etc etc.

Actual voice calls I have no problem with. No worse than driving with a passenger and having a conversation - actually that can be worse.... the number of numpties I see driving along, turning to face their passenger to converse whilst driving down the freeway is downright alarming. Even worse are passengers holding up a phone to show the driver a funny meme on farcebook...

[Rallye Sport]

Just because its legal doesn't make it a good idea. I can split stationary freeway traffic on a motorbike at 100kph but is that a good idea?
I've started playing with people now, I'll pull up well short of the car in front, if I see someone in my rear view mirror with their heads in their lap I'll pull off the brake and roll forward. They're immediate reaction is to look up and follow me. Do it a couple of times and they soon give up on the phone.
I did it to a car next to me, head down, poll position at the lights, rolled forward a metre, heads up, go, almost drove through the red light, should've seen the look on her face.

[davenl5l]

Hard to get people to stop when every second cop is on the phone whilst driving

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Officemanager

Until mobile phones is banned from society I cannot see peoples attitude changing using phones while driving!!!

Being an office manager, wouldn’t a phone free society be detrimental?

[uniacidz]

Originally Posted by davenl5l

Hard to get people to stop when every second cop is on the phone whilst driving

Don't go there

They are allowed during the course of their duty and trained

Legally allowed.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by uniacidz

Don't go there

They are allowed during the course of their duty and trained

Legally allowed.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

I keep hearing that and i have to wonder at the 'course content' lol......

[Fed]

Strangely I find hands free is more distracting than physically holding & talking on a phone, I guess it's what you're used to.

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by Fed

Strangely I find hands free is more distracting than physically holding & talking on a phone, I guess it's what you're used to.

That's because you can change gears and use indicators with your 2 free hands.

Holding the phone eliminates one of those tasks - freeing up brain capacity for a conversation. /sarcasm.

Probably 50% of the "lack of indicator" continual repeat offendors I see are older vans where the driver is holding the phone to his right ear, whilst pretending to simply be leaning his head against his hand. With small phones, you could almost get away with it, but smart phones are now too big to hide like that.

[GO FURTHER]

What gets me, is why is it legal to hold and use a CB radio mike while driving in every state in Australia?

Someone should build a mobile phone function covertly into a CB radio.

ACT: mobile phone includes any other wire less hand-held device designed or capable of being used for telecommunication other than a CB radio or any other 2-way radio. [Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2000, section 30B, subsection 3].

NSW: “mobile phone” does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio. [Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

VIC: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Safety Road Rules 2009, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

QLD: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio. [Transport Operations (Road Use Management-Road Rules) Regulation 2009, section 300, subsection 2].

SA: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Australian Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

WA: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Traffic Code 2000, Regulation 265, paragraph 1].

TAS: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Rules 2009, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

NT: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Australian Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

[CoupeKing]

As risky as it is to talk on your phone while driving, its nowhere near as dangerous as taking your eyes off the road and looking down towards your phone for 3-5 seconds to tell all of your 800 really close friends on Facebook that you just had a coffee, bang - may as well be reading a newspaper for that same time.

[uniacidz]

You make a good point Go Further
Not many ppl use CBs in the big smoke

Bit different also as all you do it pick it up and talk and can do whilst eyes on the road where as phones require more user input to confirm to answer and drivers text a lot also.

Expanding on your comment, the newer stereos that have so much in them now like android stereos, linking to phones and music etc are to me just as distracting as use of a mobile if not more.

I constantly see persons when they are in front with their heads leaned towards the radio whilst they find their latest 50cent tracks whilst driving and in and out of their lanes oblivious to their safety and others due to their actions





Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

[mike_nofx]

Just for the record, phones can be used while driving in NSW provided they are in a cradle and used to control audio, or GPS.

http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov....the-rules.html

So not all looking down at a phone is totally illegal. They could be setting a GPS location or choosing the next album.

[au350hp]

Apart from the 'it won't happen to me' mentality, I also believe that the bulk of drivers on full licences have forgot the basic dangers of driving. There are many stats that the L & P plate student needs to be aware of incase they appear in the test, but there is no practical application. There has been 24 more deaths than this time last year making a total of 74 for 2018. The officer who read this story out added 'unfortunately, until people change their attitude to driving, we will continue to see an increase'. I reckon we should change the licence process to a more hands on approach. At the moment, the onus is on the parent or guardian to oversee the appropriate hours & hopefully pass on good driving techniques & instructions. The current system is not designed to do anything more than to test for basic competence. Whilst I understand that no teacher is greater than experience, I think we need to add another level to the test. Some folks believe 'advanced driving courses' will give young drivers false confidence or that it encourages aggressive driving. I counter that with the fact that there will always be those who don't value life as much as the rest, so they will drive accordingly.
I think there are more positives to be had by increasing the practical aspect of driver training. Ever noticed if your in a bad mood, you tend to drive accordingly? That is also another area that receives no attention. A cool head makes better decisions every time where as an aggressive attitude is like a ticking bomb. I would love to hear from those with kids who have their L plates to see what they think.

Note: Whilst driving, if the phone rings, I ignore it. If I am expecting an important call, I pull over to take the call or txt. Blokes my age will remember how well we all coped without mobile phones & if you needed to be reached, there were pager's. The biggest distraction for a driver in those days, was a hi tech stereo.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

What gets me, is why is it legal to hold and use a CB radio mike while driving in every state in Australia?

Someone should build a mobile phone function covertly into a CB radio.

ACT: mobile phone includes any other wire less hand-held device designed or capable of being used for telecommunication other than a CB radio or any other 2-way radio. [Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2000, section 30B, subsection 3].

NSW: “mobile phone” does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio. [Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

VIC: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Safety Road Rules 2009, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

QLD: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio. [Transport Operations (Road Use Management-Road Rules) Regulation 2009, section 300, subsection 2].

SA: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Australian Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

WA: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Traffic Code 2000, Regulation 265, paragraph 1].

TAS: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Rules 2009, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

NT: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Australian Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

That's really interesting and really weird . You'd have to think that hanging on to CB handpiece would be just as dangerous as a phone . I do have a CB in my AU and a handheld in my FG XR6 , so going by your info/state by state research I could use my 5 watt handheld and not get booked because it isn't a mobile phone. That's scary . I don't and still won't while actually driving but it's mind boggling anyway.

Could it be that emergency services , trucking services etc rely and use two way radio on the move for obvious resons and it'd be seen as hypocritical to not allow citizen band radio to do likewise ?.

Still seems a bit odd to say the least so if they were to come up with exemptions for essential services to cover their bums and prosecute CB uses the same as mobile phones .. Have a look at this. http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2017/...-is-too-broad/

Another amazing thing for me from that (2017) is that it's only a year or so since California has introduced a ban on holding a mobile phone while driving . I don't get why it takes Americans so long to change things. Then again maybe it explains why the archaic loose gun regs , even seat belt and motor cycle /push bike helmet rules that can differ greatly state by state or a non existent at all. I think it's called States Rights or something.

[Bill M]

The chances of being hit by a cop using a mobile or a truckie on his CB are very slim to non existent compared to the risk posed by the loonies of all ages who call text or whatever on their hand held phones. A pox on them!

[Blue Shadow]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

What gets me, is why is it legal to hold and use a CB radio mike while driving in every state in Australia?

Someone should build a mobile phone function covertly into a CB radio.

ACT: mobile phone includes any other wire less hand-held device designed or capable of being used for telecommunication other than a CB radio or any other 2-way radio. [Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Regulation 2000, section 30B, subsection 3].

NSW: “mobile phone” does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio. [Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

VIC: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Safety Road Rules 2009, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

QLD: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two-way radio. [Transport Operations (Road Use Management-Road Rules) Regulation 2009, section 300, subsection 2].

SA: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Australian Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

WA: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Traffic Code 2000, Regulation 265, paragraph 1].

TAS: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Road Rules 2009, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

NT: mobile phone does not include a CB radio or any other two way radio [Australian Road Rules 2014, Rule 300, paragraph 4].

Do people stoll have CB radio's, I haven't seen ome in years. Or do I just not notice them anymore?

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by Blue Shadow

Do people stoll have CB radio's, I haven't seen ome in years. Or do I just not notice them anymore?

Most interstate truck drivers.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

Another amazing thing for me from that (2017) is that it's only a year or so since California has introduced a ban on holding a mobile phone while driving . I don't get why it takes Americans so long to change things. Then again maybe it explains why the archaic loose gun regs , even seat belt and motor cycle /push bike helmet rules that can differ greatly state by state or a non existent at all. I think it's called States Rights or something.

I can carry a hand gun in my glove box in California.... But try lighting up a smoke in the streets and people look at you funny.

I went to Los Angeles a few years ago, and nearly got arrested for smoking outside 10 metres away from a pub, and there were no outside dining areas nearby.

I got off as I explained to the copper I was a dumb tourist from Oz and was not aware of the local rules.

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by Blue Shadow

Do people stoll have CB radio's, I haven't seen ome in years. Or do I just not notice them anymore?

It's pretty much UHF these days. Most people I know with regular "cars" as such that would have had an old AM CB 25-30 years ago, generally use a small hand-held one these days, as I do - particularly on country trips where it can be very handy.

UHF also doesn't need too much in the way of an antenna, so you're probably not noticing them as much because of that too. I see nuimerous 4WDs (that actually appear to be well set up for that purpose) running in-dash UHFs with external antennas.

And as mentiond above, they're common in trucks - a truck without one would be a rare find.

[Blue Shadow]

Originally Posted by commodorenutt

It's pretty much UHF these days. Most people I know with regular "cars" as such that would have had an old AM CB 25-30 years ago, generally use a small hand-held one these days, as I do - particularly on country trips where it can be very handy.

UHF also doesn't need too much in the way of an antenna, so you're probably not noticing them as much because of that too. I see nuimerous 4WDs (that actually appear to be well set up for that purpose) running in-dash UHFs with external antennas.

And as mentiond above, they're common in trucks - a truck without one would be a rare find.

Thanks I thought everyone used phones now

[solarite_guy]

Originally Posted by GO FURTHER

I can carry a hand gun in my glove box in California....

How would you do this legally?