Blatant Stupidity or Just no Deterrent?

[Lonewolf]

Being poor as we are up North we currently have snow as we haven't been able to purchase any glorious sunshine like Deb's & Big Al, aka Spotty Dog are currently having.

Pointless exercise early on taking the dogs out in the car so they had to make do with a walk around the streets. I'd walked for less than 10 minutes and already seen almost a dozen drivers doing something which really niggles me so after the hounds had had their walk I retraced my steps & considering traffic was now slightly lighter it still didn't take me long to see what I was looking for......the question I have to ask is WHY, WHY WHY, is it necessary as soon as you stop or get stuck in traffic to get out the  phone or the shopping list? 















What's your thoughts, harmless, reckless, necessary, stupid, not harming anyone?

[pross]

Why ??.
With the amount of hands free available.ok someone will probably state they are texting.
These are the same  :censored:who don't see us 

[Burchy]

Were they all stationery?

[Lonewolf]

Were they all stationery?

Periodically, yes they were but they are still driving. Whether texting, speaking to someone, browsing the web, checking emails, checking the time, changing songs, its still a case of using the mobile phone while driving.

This is the current weather situation.

[BigAlan]

I ride about 10 miles to work each day and in the dark you can spot a car phone user as the screen is lit up, in the daylight they usually wander across to the right or leave big gaps in front, this is the one thing which annoys me big time.

As for the penalties i would recommend the following.

1st time caught = 1 months ban and £500
2nd time caught = 6 months ban and £1000
3rd time caught = 1 years ban and £2500
4th time caught= no licence for 5 years.

Drink driving is as bad, i do neither.

Alan

[PCPeteUK]

Just packing the bike for a trip to Wales - will leave after lunch as I have to give a training day for the company tomorrow - hoping the snow isn't too bad, I'm only going south to Nantgawr so should be ok :)

[pross]

I ride about 10 miles to work each day and in the dark you can spot a car phone user as the screen is lit up, in the daylight they usually wander across to the right or leave big gaps in front, this is the one thing which annoys me big time.

As for the penalties i would recommend the following.

1st time caught = 1 months ban and £500
2nd time caught = 6 months ban and £1000
3rd time caught = 1 years ban and £2500
4th time caught= no licence for 5 years.y
Drink driving is as bad, i do neither.
Alan

I like your thinking Alan.
But you end up with the tossers still driving in uncared for motors and no insurance there's no real deterrent

[O.C.]

I'm with you Steve, the use of mobiles whilst driving is completely unacceptable     ......no excuses whatever   

[100milesaway]

Erm, do they do it because the police do F all to stop em.  And the people making the laws are weak and inept?. 

[davetherave]

Erm, do they do it because the police do F all to stop em.  And the people making the laws are weak and inept?. 

I agree, but is there enough police about to monitor it ? probably not.

Driving on the M11 yesterday a young woman came barrelling past me I guess doing about a ton in an Audi Q8 brick, a couple of miles further on the same car was in lane one and was far too close to the HGV in front, as I drove past the Audi I looked to the left and surprise surprise she was texting and she looked very embarressed when I shook a finger at her.

I'm sure everybody on here has had a similar experience

[Ant]

If the police force is short of funds one way to make people aware of bikes is :

Have unmarked bikes equipped with front side and rear cameras which can take photos of drivers on mobile phones whilst moving with a fine of £40. As soon as word gets round, every car driver will be looking for bikes big time 

The cost of setup and running such an operation would easily pay for itself within an hour each day.

[100milesaway]

I ride about 10 miles to work each day and in the dark you can spot a car phone user as the screen is lit up, in the daylight they usually wander across to the right or leave big gaps in front, this is the one thing which annoys me big time.

As for the penalties i would recommend the following.

1st time caught = 1 months ban and £500
2nd time caught = 6 months ban and £1000
3rd time caught = 1 years ban and £2500
4th time caught= no licence for 5 years.

Drink driving is as bad, i do neither.

Alan

Spot on Alan.          But you just know that it will never happen.  This country is just too soft, and we simply haven't got the will to stop this sort of thing. We are fantastic at making new laws, but are garbage at implementing them.

[exBanditOwner]

yeah mobile phones when driving is terrible. Almost as bad as talking to passengers in the car. or having the stereo loud. or fitting a bluetooth system in ones helmet.

as bikers it's OUR responsibility to be observant. kick wing mirrors off cars that don't use them and generally stay alive. We are too quick to blame the car driver that says Sorry Mate i didn't see you. did you see them at the junction waiting to pull out? did you assume they wouldn't? do you assume they see you? Did you alter your road position to give them a better view of you?

Once us bikers start taking the responsibility for crashing ourselves we'll stop crashing. 

[100milesaway]

I dont think kicking wing mirrors off cars is going to endear us to the public.

[viper]

kick wing mirrors off cars that don't use them

you suggest we respond with criminal damage ? might be a hire car/company car