Reporting mobile use while driving

[Twelve Spokes]

In central London, you just have to assume that every driver is on their phone. Every one. The traffic moves so slowly that it's not too much of a problem usually . The Police don't seem to want to enforce the law so you just have to make allowances. On the motorway, it scares me. They drift slowly out of their lanes as you approach from behind, and then suddenly make a correction. I really think I would prefer to be amongst a bunch of drunk drivers. At least they are trying to drive.

Slowmotion,I wont travel on motorways,well for as much as I can avoid using them.You could also assume with motorists that they are also on some for of drug and I suspect some of the time this is true.Generally I just assume they will do something stupid and sometimes they don't let me down.

Generally it's got to be a concentration thing/reading ahead.Lack of this can result in a bad driver.IMHO

 

[andrewpreston]

Has there been any update on the Frank Wrathall case? The trial was ongoing in July so ought to be concluded, or thereabouts, by now.

GC

Sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison (he'll serve about 11) & a 4 year driving ban. According to his brief, his motor racing career is over. My heart bleeds.

 

[glenn forger]

he lied to the cops and tried the blame the cyclist, the worthless maggot.

 

[glenn forger]

Oh, and, don't bother:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vu1ZtSsRjg&feature=youtu.be

 

[andrewpreston]

Oh, and, don't bother:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vu1ZtSsRjg&feature=youtu.be

A couple of years ago I was driving down the Commercial Rd in the firm's van. The hands free failed and I was stupid enough to pick up the handset and say "I'll call you back, I' m driving". A Met officer saw me and I was given a ticket. Quite right too. I did wrong but there was no suggestion of any loss of control; the van was stationary. Seems yet again that plod picks the low hanging fruit. I stress again that I fully accept I was in the wrong & only post this to point out that either the officer's remarks are a load of old toffee or that many drivers are being ticketed without any legal reason. You can't have it both ways.

I actually believe he should have been ticketed.

 

[GuardTwin]

1 min into the video, people who pass close to me I tend to ignore but for the drivers who make my body react without me thinking twice I pop up onto youtube otherwise I will be posting none stop like mad or so it feels lol

 

[Dark46]

I sware the problem is getting worse and some people don't even try to hid that they are on the phone. Just unbelievable

 

[glenn forger]

Yesterday a car ignored a give way sign as the driver chatted on a mobile and side swiped me. He ignored a three second blast on the Airzound and carried on. I was so furious I overtook and got in front, I was very close to pulling him from the car.

Suppose there was contact, I was wondering whether I could nick his keys and call the cops? I would do it with a drunk driver and stupid cretins who drive while chatting on a mobile are as distracted as drunk drivers. Reach in, nick the keys and tell the driver they'll get them back when the police arrive.

 

[David Higson]

I hope no-one uses their mobile whilst riding their bike. It's very easy to spot perpetrators in cars and feel all self righteous but I saw a cyclist on Monday pass through a major junction with mobile clamped to his ear whilst riding "no hands".. There's really no excuse for this.

 

[benb]

I hope no-one uses their mobile whilst riding their bike. It's very easy to spot perpetrators in cars and feel all self righteous but I saw a cyclist on Monday pass through a major junction with mobile clamped to his ear whilst riding "no hands".. There's really no excuse for this.

I hope you're not attempting to draw a moral equivalence.
I would never use a mobile while cycling, but let's not pretend it's as serious or dangerous as when a driver does it. It's not illegal on a bicycle anyway, although I would certainly say it's unwise.

 

[David Higson]

I hope you're not attempting to draw a moral equivalence.
I would never use a mobile while cycling, but let's not pretend it's as serious or dangerous as when a driver does it. It's not illegal on a bicycle anyway, although I would certainly say it's unwise.

Actually, I would draw equivalence and I'm surprised that anyone would try to lessen the seriousness of not concentrating whilst using a road vehicle. Yes, a bicycle is just as lethal to certain other road users as any other mass travelling at a reasonably high velocity. A twelve stone man travelling at 20mph can crush a child's skull, Bicycles are subject to the very real rules and regulations of the road, just like the cars, trucks, buses and taxis that we all love so dearly. It exists on the same hard road that every other road vehicle does. Riding without due care and attention is equally as dangerous as driving without, both to the rider and to other road users. It presents a danger, not only to the individual but to everyone else who has to accommodate this wilful ignorance. The guy in question was in his own world, oblivious of oncoming motor traffic, other cyclists and pedestrians using the junction, (and presumably a good stretch of pothole infested road until he'd finished his call.) We've seen on here the results of hitting a careless pedestrian. One can only imagine the damage caused by a careless cyclist who hits a child or elderly person crossing the road because they were "out of it" using their smartphone. I've been riding and driving on the UK roads since the 1970's and I've seen some shocking ignorance of the Highway Code by drivers and cyclists alike. Just because we use an unlicensed and essentially untraceable vehicle does not mean that we are absolved of the rules of the road. I've seen cyclists routinely ignore the solid white lines at road junctions, red triangle warning signs, stop signs and speed limits (both zoned and mandatory) as well as the red traffic lights that are the mantra of the "get bikes off the road" movement. I've found myself ashamed to be associated with some cyclists just as I'm ashamed of the behaviour of some car drivers. In conclusion of this rant, yes, I do draw a moral equivalence in both kinds of idiocy. If we expect to be respected as road users, we should be bound by the same set of "morals" as everyone else.

http://road.cc/content/news/31118-teen-cyclist-fined-following-death-manchester-pensioner
Refers to a slightly different situation but underscores the responsibility of cyclists as road users.

 

[uclown2002]

 

[benb]

Actually, I would draw equivalence and I'm surprised that anyone would try to lessen the seriousness of not concentrating whilst using a road vehicle. Yes, a bicycle is just as lethal to certain other road users as any other mass travelling at a reasonably high velocity. A twelve stone man travelling at 20mph can crush a child's skull, Bicycles are subject to the very real rules and regulations of the road, just like the cars, trucks, buses and taxis that we all love so dearly. It exists on the same hard road that every other road vehicle does. Riding without due care and attention is equally as dangerous as driving without, both to the rider and to other road users. It presents a danger, not only to the individual but to everyone else who has to accommodate this wilful ignorance. The guy in question was in his own world, oblivious of oncoming motor traffic, other cyclists and pedestrians using the junction, (and presumably a good stretch of pothole infested road until he'd finished his call.) We've seen on here the results of hitting a careless pedestrian. One can only imagine the damage caused by a careless cyclist who hits a child or elderly person crossing the road because they were "out of it" using their smartphone. I've been riding and driving on the UK roads since the 1970's and I've seen some shocking ignorance of the Highway Code by drivers and cyclists alike. Just because we use an unlicensed and essentially untraceable vehicle does not mean that we are absolved of the rules of the road. I've seen cyclists routinely ignore the solid white lines at road junctions, red triangle warning signs, stop signs and speed limits (both zoned and mandatory) as well as the red traffic lights that are the mantra of the "get bikes off the road" movement. I've found myself ashamed to be associated with some cyclists just as I'm ashamed of the behaviour of some car drivers. In conclusion of this rant, yes, I do draw a moral equivalence in both kinds of idiocy. If we expect to be respected as road users, we should be bound by the same set of "morals" as everyone else.

http://road.cc/content/news/31118-teen-cyclist-fined-following-death-manchester-pensioner
Refers to a slightly different situation but underscores the responsibility of cyclists as road users.

Dangerous cycling is as dangerous to other road users as dangerous driving? Really?
Then please explain how drivers kill hundreds yet cyclists kill less than 1 a year on average.

To claim that cycling without paying attention as as serious as driving without paying attention is idiotic, and laughable.

And we're clearly not all bound by the same rules: driving while using a mobile is illegal, cycling while using a mobile is not. Amongst others,

 

[Garethgas]

Dangerous cycling is as dangerous to other road users as dangerous driving? Really?
Then please explain how drivers kill hundreds yet cyclists kill less than 1 a year on average.

To claim that cycling without paying attention as as serious as driving without paying attention is idiotic, and laughable.

And we're clearly not all bound by the same rules: driving while using a mobile is illegal, cycling while using a mobile is not. Amongst others,

A cyclist on the phone, distracted, oblivious, swerves, a car about to overtakes swerves to compensate, hits an oncoming vehicle and kills the mum, dad and two children.
Now laugh.

 

[benb]

A cyclist on the phone, distracted, oblivious, swerves, a car about to overtakes swerves to compensate, hits an oncoming vehicle and kills the mum, dad and two children.
Now laugh.

Has that ever happened, ever?

If you have to resort to such hyperbolic caricatures and exaggerations, that tells you how bereft your "argument" is.