Silly Cow

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
Simples don't use it. I don't in the Zed no facilities.
Different story in my other car it has full phone prep even picks up mobile if in the boot all can be controlled via steering wheel.
Even then not a great lover of using the phone whilst driving only used when necessary .
Threat of licence lose will work.
Many drivers get away with murder, almost literally, because they cite loss of their job. About time some were made an example of...
Tough, should have thought have that - you had the choice!
 

Zeti

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
Romanian Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Oct 9, 2013
Points
167
Location
Bucuresti/ Romania
Model of Z
Z3 roadster 1.9
Using the mobile without hands free and especially texting, is like smoking on a motorcycle...but still people are doing it.
 

hard top

Zorg Expert (I)
Dutch Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
213
Location
Netherlands
Read through this thread and agree it is not acceptable but this sh*** has been going on since the motor car was invented.
What about people doing their make up in the rear view mirror (Bad ///Boy) reading a map (old fashioned stuff, Grumpy likes a map) and trying to muck about with the car radio?
I did not mention gender @Grumpy, as you did, but I will say that it is mostly not the people that wake up in the morning scratching their nuts........:bag:
 

Grumps

Always happy, apart from when I'm not 🤬
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Points
226
Location
Forest Town, Mansfield
Model of Z
Z4 e85 2.5i
Read through this thread and agree it is not acceptable but this sh*** has been going on since the motor car was invented.
What about people doing their make up in the rear view mirror (Bad ///Boy) reading a map (old fashioned stuff, Grumpy likes a map) and trying to muck about with the car radio?
I did not mention gender @Grumpy, as you did, but I will say that it is mostly not the people that wake up in the morning scratching their nuts........:bag:
You do have a way with words h/t! Yes this could go round and round and round.......but the fact is 30 years ago mobiles didnt exist so this wasn't an issue. To many planks are happy to Google, faceache, twatter, make calls etc with kids in the back, surrounded by other road users, pedestrians, aliens etc etc and the punishment should be far greater than it is. It is impossible to police but as @Redline says, have a whistle blowing website with photographic evidence (that's where I kick in!) and it may just deter some from going out every day dicing with their lives or the lives of others. South Yorkshire Police now have 2 lorries and run up and down the M1 monitoring people from above. The view is a hell of a lot better from a truck.
I do like a map but read it when stationary if I need to which isn't often nowadays with the old truck nav sat in front of me which I don't mess with either whilst driving!
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
...this sh*** has been going on since the motor car was invented.
Of course it has. The problem is that the roads are probably twice as busy than they were 10 to 15 years ago. Drivers also feel far safer (as indeed we are) in their little cells than we used to. So, greater risks are taken. That removes margin for error considerably. I guess its as much about understanding and then social responsibility.

Every class and gender is at fault. Like the driver of a 40+ tonner I saw busy texting as he was bearing down on a cyclist stopped at a zebra crossing. Its the nature of transgressions that vary. Not getting into the gender issue, but see the amount of make-up being applied and coffee being drunk in traffic of a morning. Frightening.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
1 in 4 Road Traffic Incidents are mobile phone related (hands free or otherwise). Far to many distractions for the modern driver who simply does not have the capacity to process all the available data to hand whilst maintaining the skill of driving. Hands free can be just as dangerous, a few years ago there was a RTI (happened to be a truck driver, there is some relevance) who at point of impact on stationary traffic on one our motorways failed to process what was about to happen and hadn't even lifted his foot off the throttle. Fatal carnage was the end result to those he hit. On investigation said chap had been on the phone to his mum for some time, subconsciously he was in his mum's front room having a chat. If your phone rings you're in charge, just don't answer it. Pull over at the next safe location, get out of the car (less you get nicked for using a mobile whilst in control of a vehicle) and return the call. Simples. :)
 

Kit

AKA Ken
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Nov 5, 2014
Points
133
Location
Illogan,Cornwall
Model of Z
Z4 3.0si Auto
They should also make changing the cassette /cd while driving illegal, as you are also distracted.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
There are so many distractions while driving. A few years ago the years deaths on Lincolnshire's roads was well over 100 and so to keep this in mind the County council in partnership with the road safety people put up, in several locations a series of 3 signs saying something like, 1. In the last year, 2. on Lincolnshire's roads, 3. 120 people DIED! These were placed a few miles from home leading up to a locally notorious junction for RTA's and definitely distracted drivers from concentrating on what they should be doing.

WTF !! ........................................Who dreams this crap up.:rage:

Tony.
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
I agree @Andy McDonnell. Twenty years ago, it was just the phone. Now the whole world is in your phone. That and SatNav and all the other gizmos that are built into cars are an horrendous distraction to the real task.
The question is, how do you educate people when you're not allowed to shock them and wake them up to the consequences before they face it for real?

Theres got to be room for addition intelligence in smart phones to suppress some or even most of its functions when it detects certain conditions - i.e. you're on a road travelling at more than 10mph (possibly being charged). The problem is how do you restrict it to drivers phones rather than passengers. It would be possible to create an interference zone around the drivers seat that would destroy the signal reception.
I know that handsfree poses some dangers, but, at least you have full control of the car (if not your brain). What shocks me most is the number of top end cars that clearly have handsfree and bluetooth yet the driver can't be @rsed to pair their phone and use the handsfree. If caught using a phone but not on handsfree, that should be double the fine and points....
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
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TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
May be some clever person can invent a phone blocker that can be fitted in all cars at manufacture or at first MOT after it is deemed a statutory requirement.
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
There are so many distractions while driving. A few years ago the years deaths on Lincolnshire's roads was well over 100 and so to keep this in mind the County council in partnership with the road safety people put up, in several locations a series of 3 signs saying something like, 1. In the last year, 2. on Lincolnshire's roads, 3. 120 people DIED! These were placed a few miles from home leading up to a locally notorious junction for RTA's and definitely distracted drivers from concentrating on what they should be doing.

WTF !! ........................................Who dreams this crap up.:rage:

Tony.
When I worked in Leicester I counted over 120 road signs in the last two miles (one mile on the M69 and the last mile) to the office.Too much information!

One of the best solutions appeared for a while on the M1 between Jn21 and Jn21a. It displayed the registration number of cars that were speeding. It showed you that you've been seen and recognised (and probably recorded, even if not prosecuted). It was mobile so could be constantly be re-located. But, of course, thats another distraction for everyone. Damn - thats where my argument falls to the ground....
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
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British Zeds
#ZedShed
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Dec 31, 2013
Points
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Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
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E89 Z4 23i Auto
That's just my point Ian, even the things that are supposed to help keep us safe only offer yet another distraction.
One of the worst things to come to light in recent years is the humble cup holder, which only encourages all the busy people who don't have time to stop for a drink, to take it with them and drink on the move. So ban cup holders or Starbucks and Costa coffee shops.;)

Tony.
 
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Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
That's just my point Ian, even the things that are supposed to help keep us safe only offer yet another distraction.
One of the worst things to come to light in recent years is the humble cup holder, which only encourages all the busy people who don't have time to stop for a drink, to take it with them and drink on the move. So ban cup holders or Starbucks and Cost coffee shops.;)

Tony.
For every problem there's a solution - Room for another technical innovation. Cup-holders shouldn't be enabled to use until you've been travelling 30 minutes - your coffee would be cold by then :whistle:

You're right though - it promotes bad behaviour.

Too many businesses also turn a blind eye to that kind of thing. They force employees into taking unnecessary risks rather than enforce and promote good practice in the face of commercial pressure. Company directors should appear in court too if they support or turn a blind eye to such things when accidents and prosecution take place. You soon wouldn't be able to move for policies and standards!
 

Rha

Zorg Guru (V)
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British Zeds
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Oct 26, 2014
Points
181
Location
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England.
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Z4 coupe sport.
Well for me it really doesn't matter what the punishment is, the point I'll try and make is why make it punishable if you can't police it. What the hell are the insurance comps doing about it, even if you drive a classic car you can still equip it with BT, so if your driving about with no BT in your vehicle your insurance should be so high it would encourage you to fit it, no policing needed in this instance, non insured vehicle would be braking the law already so you wouldn't expect them to comply, very well off people would just pay as they would their parking tickets, but no matter who you talk to regarding car insurance they all cringe at the high premiums. It's never going to be policed except by me and you and if your gonna try and take a pic of a culprit with your mobile your just as bad if your at the wheel, I say let the insurance comps take it on, they'll never be the losers, and just to clarify a point I never use my phone whilst driving and find it such a pain my wife's bought me a Alpine HU with BT for the Z. Lol
Rha, Roy.
 

Brian4

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Points
173
Location
Near Grantham
Model of Z
Z3 3.0i Auto
If you are changing CD or talking in the car you can easily stop when something happens or the road gets busy but using a phone (hands free to receive calls) and the taking seems to take priority.
I thought that hands free kits were only allowed if to use them you only needed to press one button.
We were prohibited to use mobile phones in our company cars but now they are fitted with BT we can receive calls but cannot make them. Our 5 535 reads text messages, and when SWMBO only sends one x it says x if she sends xxx it says kisses. The phone is voice controlled so one button to turn on voice control and then shout at the windscreen.
 

DavidM

Zorg Expert (I)
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British Zeds
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Points
208
Location
Ireland
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2.8 Roadster
Have we mentioned the rubber neckers which is most of us!!:banghead:
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
I don't read half my text messages apparently. Maybe I should have a car that does it for me and let it decide which ones are worth looking at.

I refuse to take/make any calls in the car on my work mobile even on HF. Others I know though frequently take part in conference calls while driving. I get so few calls on my own mobile (cos I don't have any friends =))) it rarely goes when I'm in the car anyway.

And don't start me on those who constantly have satnavs obscuring half the windscreen....and they're only going down the shops...
 
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