UK to ban all in-hand mobile phone use while driving in 2022(theguardian.com)
theguardian.com
UK to ban all in-hand mobile phone use while driving in 2022
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/19/uk-drivers-face-200-fines-in-mobile-phone-clampdown
67 comments
Is there any guarantee that disqualification actually keeps these people off the streets? (Honestly asking as I'm not familiar with how the law around this works in the UK)
I lost a childhood friend to a woman with a long drunk driving record, who naturally disregarded her suspended license and plowed right through us playing street hokey in broad daylight.
Since then I've thought penalties should be more punitive when licenses get suspended, like by impounding the car to ensure that the person can't just drive it anyway. But like the loopholes you mention, I haven't found a way to do it that doesn't incur further hardship, like losing employment or usurious impound lot fees accruing in the interim.
I lost a childhood friend to a woman with a long drunk driving record, who naturally disregarded her suspended license and plowed right through us playing street hokey in broad daylight.
Since then I've thought penalties should be more punitive when licenses get suspended, like by impounding the car to ensure that the person can't just drive it anyway. But like the loopholes you mention, I haven't found a way to do it that doesn't incur further hardship, like losing employment or usurious impound lot fees accruing in the interim.
Of course not. Many people are caught without licences usually because the cars they're driving are uninsured and it's trivial to check, even for civilians. These people get fined, jail time, and points against a pretend license which can act towards a ban (eg no learning).
Until we're happy going to a Fifth Element style, license-as-the-key ignition, I don't think we'll achieve what you want. That said, given the drink-driving controls that are being mandated, ID checks seem pretty simple.
Until we're happy going to a Fifth Element style, license-as-the-key ignition, I don't think we'll achieve what you want. That said, given the drink-driving controls that are being mandated, ID checks seem pretty simple.
> Under current UK laws, drivers are banned from texting or making a phone call (other than in an emergency) while using a handheld device. From 2022, drivers will not be allowed to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games on their phones when driving.
Incredible that the lawmakers were stupid enough last time to ban not phone usage in general, but just texting and making a call. And now they are repeating the same mistake by specifying that it's illegal to scroll through playlists or play games? Just ban phone usage nonstop already like other, sane countries. Make an exception for navigational purposes, and hopefully we can have fewer deaths because of distracted driving.
Or even better, create a law that outlaws being distracted by anything while driving, requiring drivers to stop if they are distracted.
Incredible that the lawmakers were stupid enough last time to ban not phone usage in general, but just texting and making a call. And now they are repeating the same mistake by specifying that it's illegal to scroll through playlists or play games? Just ban phone usage nonstop already like other, sane countries. Make an exception for navigational purposes, and hopefully we can have fewer deaths because of distracted driving.
Or even better, create a law that outlaws being distracted by anything while driving, requiring drivers to stop if they are distracted.
>Or even better, create a law that outlaws being distracted by anything while driving, requiring drivers to stop if they are distracted.
One particularly notable one near where I live spans busy 4-lane junction. Because what drivers negotiating that junction really need to aid their concentration is to have ginormous screen displaying a sexy model in his or her underwear emblazoned right across the highway.
Another one near me is close to a rugby club and plays video clips of the team in action. Again, no other purpose than to grab the attention of passing motorists. Why are these not banned also?
It's avoiding banning looking at CityMapper, Google Maps, etc.
(And perhaps even poking 'next track' button which is not that different to the same on the dashboard's cassette player.)
The prose you quoted is just the paper's explanation, I assume the 'all in-hand use' from the title is closer to what will be in the actual bill.
(And perhaps even poking 'next track' button which is not that different to the same on the dashboard's cassette player.)
The prose you quoted is just the paper's explanation, I assume the 'all in-hand use' from the title is closer to what will be in the actual bill.
> I assume the 'all in-hand use' from the title is closer to what will be in the actual bill
I sure hope so, but considering the track record, I'm avoiding to assume anything.
I sure hope so, but considering the track record, I'm avoiding to assume anything.
I mean, phones were very very different when the law went into place.
I don't think it's quite fair to be totally harsh on the legislators not predicting modern smartphone complexity.
If you ban it completely you'd also ban using GPS/Maps/Sat Nav apps.
I don't think it's quite fair to be totally harsh on the legislators not predicting modern smartphone complexity.
If you ban it completely you'd also ban using GPS/Maps/Sat Nav apps.
> I mean, phones were very very different when the law went into place.
I don't know exactly when the previous law came into effect, but I remember the Nokia 3310 (released 2000) had games on it already.
> If you ban it completely you'd also ban using GPS/Maps/Sat Nav apps.
Yeah, hence I wrote about excepting navigational purposes in my comment.
I don't know exactly when the previous law came into effect, but I remember the Nokia 3310 (released 2000) had games on it already.
> If you ban it completely you'd also ban using GPS/Maps/Sat Nav apps.
Yeah, hence I wrote about excepting navigational purposes in my comment.
No it’s absolutely fine. I have an iPhone with a basic Bluetooth connection to the car. I have a stalk for audio control and I use Siri to tell it to do stuff. The audio is entirely hands free. You just get in the car and it works. You don’t need to touch or handle it for navigation either.
iOS also switches into driving focus mode which turns all the other distractions off: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208090
The legislation is perfectly good.
iOS also switches into driving focus mode which turns all the other distractions off: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208090
The legislation is perfectly good.
>and I use Siri to tell it to do stuff.
Using Siri is more dangerous than texting. The below linked research (and others) found that using Siri raises the reaction time 36%. That is 1% worse than texting! For comparison, driving at the drink-drive limit (UK) is 12%. So you are doing yourself a big disservice by using Siri and thinking you are safe(r).
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-cam...
Using Siri is more dangerous than texting. The below linked research (and others) found that using Siri raises the reaction time 36%. That is 1% worse than texting! For comparison, driving at the drink-drive limit (UK) is 12%. So you are doing yourself a big disservice by using Siri and thinking you are safe(r).
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-cam...
I don’t use it when I’m actually driving. Before to set the destination.
If you're not actively driving, you might as well just hold the device in your hand?
“Hey siri navigate home”
Pretty simple.
Pretty simple.
Yes, as long as it works for your very specific personal preference!
Isn't that the point? Navigation software has audio cues for turns that let the driver keep his eyes on the road.
If you need to read a map, pull over, stop the vehicle, and read the map.
If you need to read a map, pull over, stop the vehicle, and read the map.
> Navigation software has audio cues for turns that let the driver keep his eyes on the road
Considering lots of people place their phone/nav device on the windshield and block enough sight to hide a schoolbus in their direct view I don't think this actually matters all that much.
Considering lots of people place their phone/nav device on the windshield and block enough sight to hide a schoolbus in their direct view I don't think this actually matters all that much.
> Just ban phone usage nonstop already like other, sane countries.
Can you give a specific example? There are only a few countries with safer roads (e.g. Norway, Sweden, Switzerland depending how you measure) and I know that Norway has less restrictive laws and Sweden has almost none except for egregious behaviour like texting (last time I checked.)
Can you give a specific example? There are only a few countries with safer roads (e.g. Norway, Sweden, Switzerland depending how you measure) and I know that Norway has less restrictive laws and Sweden has almost none except for egregious behaviour like texting (last time I checked.)
-In Norway, the law states that if you are to use your phone in a moving motor vehicle, it needs to be installed in an approved handsfree holder, with the screen as close to the driver's normal field of view as possible. No hand-held use is allowed.
If so installed, you may use it to initiate and accept calls.
You may also use your phone for navigation, entertainment &c provided the phone is configured for whatever purpose while the vehicle is stationary or using either voice commands or vehicle-integrated controls.
You may NOT touch any phone buttons or touch screens for any other purpose than dialing a number or answering a call while the vehicle is moving.
If so installed, you may use it to initiate and accept calls.
You may also use your phone for navigation, entertainment &c provided the phone is configured for whatever purpose while the vehicle is stationary or using either voice commands or vehicle-integrated controls.
You may NOT touch any phone buttons or touch screens for any other purpose than dialing a number or answering a call while the vehicle is moving.
In Denmark if you pull to the side of the road and you then send a text you can be fined US$250 and get 1 count on your license (above 3 means they take your license). Using a phone is strictly forbidden at any time you are "part of the traffic". So either the phone has to be secured to the car somehow (not hand-held that is) or you cannot in any way be part of the traffic. It is rare but people do get fined for this from time to time.
Just to clarify: I have my phone mounted in a holder attached to my window.
I can basically do whatever I want with it as long as it stays in the holder. If I remove it and put it away without taking my eyes of the road, the penalty is as described above. If I were to type this comment on it while mounted and still payed attention to trafic, no penalty.
And yet I still see a massive number of people with their phone to their ear.
I can basically do whatever I want with it as long as it stays in the holder. If I remove it and put it away without taking my eyes of the road, the penalty is as described above. If I were to type this comment on it while mounted and still payed attention to trafic, no penalty.
And yet I still see a massive number of people with their phone to their ear.
The Netherlands bans all holding of mobile phones, enabled or not. Pressing something like "alternative route" is allowed (in the same sense as operating the radio) but only when the device is firmly attached to the car like in a mount.
Mostly it's the holding of an mobile electronic device that's explicitly forbidden. Using it excessively is covered by the common sense article of traffic laws which just tells you not to do dangerous things.
The law has basically been extended to cover possibly non-dangerous holding of mobile phones to lighten the burden of proof.
The law has basically been extended to cover possibly non-dangerous holding of mobile phones to lighten the burden of proof.
Since early 2018 it’s forbidden to use a phone while driving in Sweden. https://www.trafikverket.se/resa-och-trafik/trafiksakerhet/D...
Thanks for the link. This seems to be a ban on holding a phone. (As in the UK already https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law)
Another example: Switzerland forbids in hand mobile phone usage as well.
Incredible that the lawmakers were stupid enough last time to ban not phone usage in general
This was not stupidity. It's an example of specific, well-scoped lawmaking, which is exactly the sort of thing we should welcome. It's targeted specifically at the use of communication devices while driving, provides appropriate exemptions, and seems like an entirely appropriate step given the nature of the mobile device market in 2003. Now the regulations are being tightened further, again in a reasonable way, to deal with the problems that now exist.
And now they are repeating the same mistake by specifying that it's illegal to scroll through playlists or play games
This is not what is happening, and is clearly an example of the sort of thing that will be banned under a more general rule of "don't use a mobile device while driving".
Just ban phone usage nonstop already like other, sane countries. Make an exception for navigational purposes, and hopefully we can have fewer deaths because of distracted driving.
This is exactly what is happening, along with additional clarifications on what counts as driving (e.g. being stopped at traffic lights is still driving) and ensuring that commonly-used, safe features (for example, making a contactless payment at a toll booth) are not caught by the regulations.
This was not stupidity. It's an example of specific, well-scoped lawmaking, which is exactly the sort of thing we should welcome. It's targeted specifically at the use of communication devices while driving, provides appropriate exemptions, and seems like an entirely appropriate step given the nature of the mobile device market in 2003. Now the regulations are being tightened further, again in a reasonable way, to deal with the problems that now exist.
And now they are repeating the same mistake by specifying that it's illegal to scroll through playlists or play games
This is not what is happening, and is clearly an example of the sort of thing that will be banned under a more general rule of "don't use a mobile device while driving".
Just ban phone usage nonstop already like other, sane countries. Make an exception for navigational purposes, and hopefully we can have fewer deaths because of distracted driving.
This is exactly what is happening, along with additional clarifications on what counts as driving (e.g. being stopped at traffic lights is still driving) and ensuring that commonly-used, safe features (for example, making a contactless payment at a toll booth) are not caught by the regulations.
This is one of those typical HN “solutions” that seem good on the surface but fail in the real world.
Remember if a driver chooses to challenge a ticket, the state needs to prove proof. Texting and calls are easy to prove. Having a phone in your hand is easy to prove.
Remember if a driver chooses to challenge a ticket, the state needs to prove proof. Texting and calls are easy to prove. Having a phone in your hand is easy to prove.
Yours is another one of those typical HN rebutes.
Just because a solution isn't perfect doesn't mean it wouldn't help.
Just because a solution isn't perfect doesn't mean it wouldn't help.
My hurdle isn’t “perfect” it’s “executable”. I’ve worked in strategy roles long enough to know that people who haven’t executed are kinda useless.
> https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
> https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/mobile-phone-laws/
> It’s illegal to hold a phone or sat nav while driving or riding a motorcycle.
> the police can charge you for driving without due care and attention or careless driving.
Everyone already thought it was illegal, inluding the governments own website and the highway code.
This seems to be a tough new law (we are tough on crime, your taxes hard at work) designed to make the current law the law.
Note: The article and other similar articles are all reguritations of the press release on the matter. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/any-use-of-hand-held-mobi...
> https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/mobile-phone-laws/
> It’s illegal to hold a phone or sat nav while driving or riding a motorcycle.
> the police can charge you for driving without due care and attention or careless driving.
Everyone already thought it was illegal, inluding the governments own website and the highway code.
This seems to be a tough new law (we are tough on crime, your taxes hard at work) designed to make the current law the law.
Note: The article and other similar articles are all reguritations of the press release on the matter. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/any-use-of-hand-held-mobi...
A sober reminder of why this is too little, too late...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/31/lorry-driver...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/31/lorry-driver...
I am terrified of the day I will also witness this happening, or worse, become a victim. Because I walk a lot , I see drivers everywhere constantly holding their phones on one hand while driving with the other, barely looking forward to watch the road, just like the lorry driver in question, who killed a whole family while scrolling through music on his phone, did. It's a matter of time, people should be banned from driving as soon as can finally get a fucking computer to do it for us. The carnage must stop and I am honestly shocked the number of people dying is not an order of magnitude higher given the behaviour I see from drivers everywhere, even in the richest, most "law-abiding" countries (let alone elsewhere).
Do you drive on the roads in the UK? I don't think legislation will fix the culture of not caring enough to recognize speed limit signs. People are constantly distracted or just stupid. Regardless of whether the speed limit is 20 or 30, they all choose to drive at 25. In fact, next to no-one is actually following the 20mph speed limit in most cases. Motorway driving isn't any better, you either do well below 70 or well above it. There's people leaving 100m stretches between them and the next car when there's congestion. Road markings are taken to be mere suggestions. And the road markings themselves are rubbish - how am I supposed to know which lane must I take if the only signs instructing me of that are under the cars in front of me?
I wholeheartedly agree that phones shouldn't be used during driving, but to drive safer and more efficiently, the country needs a change in driving culture.
I wholeheartedly agree that phones shouldn't be used during driving, but to drive safer and more efficiently, the country needs a change in driving culture.
The UK has amongst the safest roads in the world, however you choose to measure it.
There is always room for improvement, but to suggest the UK has a poor driving safety culture is demonstrably false.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-r...
There is always room for improvement, but to suggest the UK has a poor driving safety culture is demonstrably false.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-r...
I think it varies by area. In suburban parts of West London I can guarantee on any day I walk along roads near my house that I will observe unsafe driving - it usually doesn't result in an accident but it's a numbers game and eventually will cause damage that's fully avoidable.
What I find especially odd recently are the cases of people being reckless with their own cars suffering as a result - I get that whilst driving a company vehicle, certain types of people will turn a blind eye with it, but the number of cases of people scraping their own car's bumpers as they fly over speed bumps is definitely on the rise. I'm not suggesting they willfully set out to scrape them, but it's obvious to a bystander this will happen given the way they drive and don't break in time. It's as if they haven't the forethought to connect their behaviour and the outcome.
What I find especially odd recently are the cases of people being reckless with their own cars suffering as a result - I get that whilst driving a company vehicle, certain types of people will turn a blind eye with it, but the number of cases of people scraping their own car's bumpers as they fly over speed bumps is definitely on the rise. I'm not suggesting they willfully set out to scrape them, but it's obvious to a bystander this will happen given the way they drive and don't break in time. It's as if they haven't the forethought to connect their behaviour and the outcome.
It's true the UK has "safer" streets than other countries, but that doesn't mean it's great.
2.9 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year... That means that if everyone lived in a medium sized town of 100,000 people, each town would have nearly 3 of its inhabitants killed on the roads per year. Over a period of , say, 10 years, you 're fairly likely to know or be related to one of them. It's still pretty terrible, even if other places on this planet have even much worse.
2.9 fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants per year... That means that if everyone lived in a medium sized town of 100,000 people, each town would have nearly 3 of its inhabitants killed on the roads per year. Over a period of , say, 10 years, you 're fairly likely to know or be related to one of them. It's still pretty terrible, even if other places on this planet have even much worse.
Oh, it's safe, but what's the point of using a car if you'll reach your destination slower than if you were to use public transportation? I'm not arguing that it's too safe, but I'm arguing that it's as safe coincidentally, and the driving culture still has lots of room for improvement.
It's really hard to compare these. Netherlands has 4.7 per 1 billion vehicle-km, UK 3.9. I'd guess this is because population density (more crossings) and a way more cyclist in Netherlands. Cycling is safer in Netherlands than in UK. (I have cycled quite a bit in both places)
The number of deaths is indeed low.
How's the number of traffic-related injuries?
How's the number of traffic-related injuries?
You are correct although this is more a case of other countries being worse rather than us being particularly well-behaved.
I completely agree. Alas, enforcement is minimal and the worst offenders seem, correctly, to believe there is virtually no chance of being caught.
Ah yes I remember that. It’s horrible.
Every day I see people still doing it though here in London. There is no excuse. Not one.
Actually two weeks ago there was a huge Jewsons truck blocking an entire junction while driver was on his phone. The driver in front of me who was blocked confronted him and he told her to fuck off and what was she going to do about it. She used her phone to take a photo of him on his. I hope something is done. Some people are so arrogant and thoughtless.
Every day I see people still doing it though here in London. There is no excuse. Not one.
Actually two weeks ago there was a huge Jewsons truck blocking an entire junction while driver was on his phone. The driver in front of me who was blocked confronted him and he told her to fuck off and what was she going to do about it. She used her phone to take a photo of him on his. I hope something is done. Some people are so arrogant and thoughtless.
The driver was jailed for 10 years so I don't get your point; the behaviour was already illegal since the driver was not paying attention and wasn't in control of his vehicle.
[Replying to pre-edit comment before the semicolon] An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (or punishment, in this case- sentencing offenders won't bring anyone back to life).
/edit since you've edited your comment/
The law around usage of a phone whilst driving was not so clear cut. A minor UK celebrity famously evaded prosecution by claiming he wasn't using a phone 'as a phone' when he was caught.
https://www.ashmanssolicitors.com/blog/have-you-been-caught-...
Re the case of the lorry driver: There was video footage of him browsing his phone, he killed 4 people. This isn't normally the case which is why many people think it's OK to drive whilst distracted by their phones ('multi-tasking' is the phrase I think they often use?).
If laws around usage of mobile phones whilst driving were tightened up and rigorously enforced from the outset then it is less likely such a tragedy would have happened.
This was my point. As well as a gentle reminder for anyone who thinks there are never going to be serious consequences of doing similar.
https://www.ashmanssolicitors.com/blog/have-you-been-caught-...
Re the case of the lorry driver: There was video footage of him browsing his phone, he killed 4 people. This isn't normally the case which is why many people think it's OK to drive whilst distracted by their phones ('multi-tasking' is the phrase I think they often use?).
If laws around usage of mobile phones whilst driving were tightened up and rigorously enforced from the outset then it is less likely such a tragedy would have happened.
This was my point. As well as a gentle reminder for anyone who thinks there are never going to be serious consequences of doing similar.
Not OP but perhaps having a law in place and that law enforced would have made the accident less likely in the first place.
The four who might have still been alive today had it been illegal to use a phone will driving see OP's point
We all know making things illegal means no one will ever do them again, obviously /s
Yes, but why can you still smoke whilst driving (providing it is your car not being used for business)?
Seems incredible this has not been made illegal too.
Seems incredible this has not been made illegal too.
Very good point. My mother in law totalled her car when she dropped a cigarette on the floor when she was driving. Fortunately no one else involved.
Being distracted whilst driving is literally the definition of "driving without due care and attention", and explicit law doesn't actually make any difference, apart from sentencing.
Or just using ipad mini!
What about touchscreens in the car itself?
I’m sure they’re not as much distracting, but they still require more attention than they should.
I’m sure they’re not as much distracting, but they still require more attention than they should.
>I’m sure they’re not as much distracting
Well...
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-cam...
Well...
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-cam...
I'd object, to a law outlawing the use of those. Many of them are used to control car functions like climate control etc, and it's never been a particular problem before to allow people to (for instance) change radio station or skip a track on the CD.
With the rise of carplay and android auto, they present simplified, low-distraction interfaces.
With the rise of carplay and android auto, they present simplified, low-distraction interfaces.
I think the problem here is that a car with physical buttons is safer to use than one that does not have physical buttons. This is because you have to actually look at the screen to know where tap and to determine whether you have effectively pressed.
In the olden days, you could simply turn a knob to change the climate control or in an earlier time, there were radio buttons to change to another radio station (hence the name). Now, it seems there's various things I can't do in a modern car without stopping first.
In the olden days, you could simply turn a knob to change the climate control or in an earlier time, there were radio buttons to change to another radio station (hence the name). Now, it seems there's various things I can't do in a modern car without stopping first.
My 2019 Honda Jazz doesn't use a touch screen for climate control, but it has a "touch based" interface for it and I way preferred the physical knobs on my previous car. Newer Hondas have switched back to physical knobs so I guess the general sentiment was that touch is not great for climate control.
As for changing radio station or tracks. Both my cars I've owned for the last 10 years has steering wheel controls which can do this. I never really need to touch my actual radio.
The only time I would ever want to touch my car's or phone's screen is before I start a trip to turn on navigation software or start up Spotify.
As for changing radio station or tracks. Both my cars I've owned for the last 10 years has steering wheel controls which can do this. I never really need to touch my actual radio.
The only time I would ever want to touch my car's or phone's screen is before I start a trip to turn on navigation software or start up Spotify.
That's too far. Console switches existed long before that and good luck switching something on/off on a 2000's Volvo dashboard without looking at it.
The point is to sop people holding phones in their hands or on their laps and spending too more time looking at them than a spit of a second, checking social media etc.
The point is to sop people holding phones in their hands or on their laps and spending too more time looking at them than a spit of a second, checking social media etc.
The current law is confusing and a bit arbitrary since it came in in 2003 before smartphones were a thing. Here's the Crown Prosecution Service guidance if you want to see how complicated it is: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/road-traffic-mobile-ph...
Hopefully the new law will tighten things up and clarify.
Hopefully the new law will tighten things up and clarify.
They can create all the laws they want but if they don’t have police to enforce them it’s a waste of time
That’s cute but if I’ve got a touch screen in my car and scroll through Spotify playlist, I’m as distracted as if I would be doing that on my phone if not worse.
We need something general about distractions and may be a mandate that requires cars to disable touch screen whilst moving. “Put gear shift lever in park to enable touch screen”
We need something general about distractions and may be a mandate that requires cars to disable touch screen whilst moving. “Put gear shift lever in park to enable touch screen”
I ride a motorbike so i get to see more. There isn’t a traffic light or even a street you can drive on in the uk where there isn’t at least one driver playing with a phone or a satnav.
And despite all that, road deaths are pretty low.
Is this genuinely the next most important thing we could do to get people where they’re going quickly and safely?
For my money, I’d focus on reintroducing traffic police in the UK. Ostensibly they’ve never gone away, they still exist. However it’s a skeleton staff only really equipped to deal with road traffic accidents. There aren’t enough to keep things flowing safely and smoothly - which means actively stopping drivers regularly for a word in the ear. Not a ticket, just a word in the first instance.
And despite all that, road deaths are pretty low.
Is this genuinely the next most important thing we could do to get people where they’re going quickly and safely?
For my money, I’d focus on reintroducing traffic police in the UK. Ostensibly they’ve never gone away, they still exist. However it’s a skeleton staff only really equipped to deal with road traffic accidents. There aren’t enough to keep things flowing safely and smoothly - which means actively stopping drivers regularly for a word in the ear. Not a ticket, just a word in the first instance.
I also think having a satnav and phone available might even reduce accidents. It will avoid people getting lost, making erratic turns, being distracted and stressed looking for street signs. And with the phone you can call when you're late, and feel less rushed which can also be distracting.
But I think the actual handling of the device should be avoided, a fixed mount helps a lot. Looking down is really disorienting.
But I'm glad I don't have to drive anymore. I find it too stressful these days. Traffic has become too busy and there's more rules to worry about with variable speed limits depending on the hour etc.
But I think the actual handling of the device should be avoided, a fixed mount helps a lot. Looking down is really disorienting.
But I'm glad I don't have to drive anymore. I find it too stressful these days. Traffic has become too busy and there's more rules to worry about with variable speed limits depending on the hour etc.
>a fixed mount helps a lot
I'm not sure that holds true.
"Participants underestimated by as much as 5 seconds the time they thought they spent looking away from the road when engaging with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via touch control.
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-cam...
I'm not sure that holds true.
"Participants underestimated by as much as 5 seconds the time they thought they spent looking away from the road when engaging with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via touch control.
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-cam...
I checked, and you’re right, road deaths are (relatively speaking) low. Around 1500 per year in the UK.
However injuries are incredibly high, >100,000 in the UK.
I think if we consider QALYs instead of deaths then the calculus on importance becomes more obvious.
However injuries are incredibly high, >100,000 in the UK.
I think if we consider QALYs instead of deaths then the calculus on importance becomes more obvious.
Good!
Would be nice if people were always actually disqualified at 12 points.
>While numbers of exceptional hardship pleas are not recorded separately, official figures show that more than 83,000 people escaped an automatic driving ban due to “mitigating circumstances” between 2011 and 2020.
>Christopher Gard accumulated eight convictions for using a mobile phone while driving but escaped a ban in June 2015 by arguing that it would cause him to lose his job, highlighting that this would impact negatively on his young son, and his son’s mother. He promised to keep his phone locked in his boot. Six weeks later, he had already broken his promise, and was once again texting behind the wheel when he ploughed into the back of cyclist Lee Martin, killing him. Gard tried to cover up his actions by deleting his texts. He was later jailed for nine years for causing death by dangerous driving.