Mobile Phone use in cars

[robracer]

I was watching a young female P plater on Friday talking on her phone with her right hand against her ear whilst driving a manual car, so one hand to steer & change gears I really had a good stare at her whilst stopped at the lights in fact did not look away for at least 1 minute.... needless to say I got the bird & same was returned so I decided to get the hell away from here ASAP as she was a menace. This whole episode + the segment on sixty minutes last night got me thinking about the use of mobiles while driving.
What I really want to know is what would be the difference between talking hands free & talking with a passenger? I constantly see female drivers with female passengers engaged in the deepest of conversations including both hands used for gesturing whilst driving & I wonder if this distraction is as dangerous as hands free mobile phone use

[Smitty]

hmmm..... dangerous alright
not sure if it beats the one talking on the phone in one hand....drinking coffee in the other
or doing their makeup


I do on ocassions wish for a power pole to leap out in front

[aardvark]

You may want to read this paper Rob:

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/department ... arvard.PDF

[robracer]

Hole in one there Ardy........ very interesting reading even if it is almost 10 years old, there are small comparisons, nothing in depth, but still interesting reading especially the Summary of Driver Performance Studies.

[fireyrob]

Yesterday walking through a carpark got tagged by a 4wd reversing out if a car spot and yep talking away on the phone! If she wasn't such a hottie I probably wouldve abused her

[rooster]

Friday morning Tarent Point Bridge as sun comes across the vehicle in front she LOWERS THE CURTAIN ON THE FRONT DRIVERS WINDOW I kid you not, completely blocked off the window outside rear view the lot.
Anyone who needs to anser a phone in a car need to get a life no phone call is that important and beside hands free isn't that expensive.

I find the increase in GPS mountings in the middle of windscreens will be the next cause/excuse for killing people

[robracer]

I find the increase in GPS mountings in the middle of windscreens will be the next cause/excuse for killing people

Is that before or after the bling hanging off the mirror......... chains medallions, disco balls, Garter belts & crosses he with the most bling dies Or the Chinese equivalent of soft toys covering the dash & rear compartment

GPS is in my opinion the same as a passenger talking to you ... leaving aside programing & fiddling with the unit which is just as dangerous as the mobile phone.

[z900/zx9]

If i am at the lights and some numbnut is chatting suddenly the nine seems to rev a lot and really loud,until they decied its just to hard to hear

[Gav]

Being in the tanker all day, i see all sorts of weird and wonderful things on the road,most remarkably one gentleman southbound M5 stark naked.Every morning most commuters are consuming their breakfast.Everything from Maccas right down to bowls of cereal.Thats right, Bowls,milk cornflakes the lot all while doing 100klms plus.People also think that being on the motorways is an opportune way to catch up on that novel, work on the spread sheet, not to mention some lucky gents recieving fellatio all whilst zooming along at crazy speeds There's no wonder theres so many accidents on the motorways. I think mobiles are one issue, but there are so many things to distract our fellow road users.People ,in my view need to be concentrating on driving..full stop, then there would be less accidents.

[Lone Wolf]

most remarkably one gentleman southbound M5 stark naked.

Thats wrong! Being in a truck has its benefits though, generally getting to see what some girls get up to on the motorways Incredibly dangerous, how am I supposed to concentrate on driving with a view like that

[Naked Twin]

Rob did you notice that Tara was talking into the camera whilst driving, taking her eyes off the road. It was okay though as she was in a quiet suburban street with little or no traffic.

Thought the whole thing was a little bit hypocritical and as you say if talking on the phone is that dangerous then would it not be the same if you are talking to a passenger or a pillion? Thought it lacked some serious credibility, I agree that talking without hands free or texting is out and out dangerous, but some of the other assumptions did not go into enough depth.

Nick

[robracer]

Rob did you notice that Tara was talking into the camera whilst driving, taking her eyes off the road. It was okay though as she was in a quiet suburban street with little or no traffic.

Its always OK when there is a story to tell........ including driving without a seatbelt as has been done in a previous story

This brings me back to my original question about a passenger in the car having an in depth conversation with the driver ..... is it the level of concentration that is required is less or the fact the almost face to face interaction somehow has less effect as compared to a phone conversation

[DaveGPz]

Talking is one thing - why do they have to look at their passenger and wave their hands around? You're in a car; the passenger hasn't got out without you noticing!

My personal favourite was being passed on the Eastern freeway by a young lady in a BMW 3 series with a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. Doesn't leave a lot of hands free for driving.

The part of me that hates over-regulation and the 'if you don't like it, ban it' mentality is at war with the 'I hate people who drive through Maccas then drive off balancing coffee, burger and sundae, ignoring the small green motorbikle' part of me. Never did get the grenade launcher I asked for, for Fathers' day.

[Damon Z1000]

Snorky,Rob, I have also witnessed the amazing sight of someone reading a book on the steering wheel, it's amazing what you see travelling the M4 from the M7 to Parra everyday
Everyday I see an acco, some real bad ones and some minor but I'm sure 80% could be reduced by paying more attention.
I'm not perfect If I'm running late I will duck into Maccas on the M4 and grab brekky but am always cautious, you know coffee in the cup holder, brekky unwrapped before driving off. No cereal bowls here just maybe a bacon roll
I won't ride the bike on the M4 in commuter traffic, taking life into ones hands
Scary shit

[rooster]

Says it all really

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