[poleman]

With it now being 3 points and a sixty pounds fine for using a mobile phone when driving, what hands free kits do you use? (any web links) if you don't use one then you should

Andy

[Bazzy1999]

I don’t have a hands free I just let it ring..
If its important they will leave a message and ill get back to them.


Bazz...

[Pj]

Hands free will be hit next!

Police say advanced awareness tests prove that even using hands free is as dangerous as a driver under influence of alcohol, due to lack of concentration.
Despite the fact that I had a lorry driver behind me today, 40 tons!!  driving, on the phone eating and drinking a can of coke or something!  scared me when we drew up to lights
I was on maximum water load  SPLOSH!

[dai]

Police say advanced awareness tests prove that even using hands free is as dangerous as a driver under influence of alcohol, due to lack of concentration.
I have always been puzzled by this. What's the difference between talking hands free, and talking to a passenger, shouting at the kids, etc? Dai

[Sarah Sarill]

.................or driving one handed whilst holding a cigarette in your hand 

I get really angry when I see people doing this 

Sarah

[Bazzy1999]

you will be angry at me then... 

[Sarah Sarill]

you will be angry at me then... 

An ex colleague of mine got caught eating chips (from an open bag on the passengers) seat whilst driving. 

Driving without due care and attention - I have yet to hear of anyone locally fined for smoking - grrrrrrrrr 

Cant be angry with anyone off this forum Bazz - I may need your help in the future - LOL 

Sarah

[Ian_Giles]

Or reaching down to fiddle with the radio...lethal, and we've all done that.

The thing about talking on the phone, hands free or otherwise is that the person on the other end cannot see the road conditions.
When someone is sat next to you, they also anticipate those moments when you pause in mid conversation to negociate a traffic hazzard.
When talking on the phone it takes up more of your concentration too.

I've often been driving on the motorway and the vehicle in front slows suddenly, as you pass them you see them yakking on their mobile.
Because they are concentrating on the phone, they aren't paying quite as much attention and their foot eases of the accelerator (dangerous if they slow down too much on a motorway (or any road come to that)

Though quite how the Police can prove yo uare talking on hands free I don't know!
If pulled over I'd claim to be singing along to the radio...or talking to myself!

Ian

[Pj]

As from tomorrow there may be a new law introduced

Talking to Tosh whilst driving!

[paulstevens]

im in north west london 2 of my mates all got done by the same trap police setup the day the law came into effect. they got 3 points and £60

DON'T DO It GET A HANDS FREE...  EVEN BETTER DON'T ANSWER

[borg]

bluetooth i use when working as well.

[DaveWilkinson]

You can still get done when using hands free kit acording to the adverts on the radio normally run at peak traffic time aimed at drivers going home listening to the radio.....

As for talking on the phone distracting people...true but then ok ban radio's in cars, ban passengers in cars, ban bill boards and bus advertising, while were on ban ladys with small skirts because they are leathal.

Human nature makes us look for body language while talking to people "face to face" and if you watch people talking to there passengers, including looking at rear seat passengers in your rear view mirror ( always knew there was a use for that ) you will see that they are more of a distraction than mobiles in my opinion.

DAve

[Ian_Giles]

I agree about babes  in short skirts/low tops/ tight jeans and no Bra's

When I was a teenager (I'm too old to notice these things now of course ) I drove into the back of a car that had stopped at a Zebra crossing for exactly that reason

Back seat passengers can also be a problem to chat to, but the radio isn't, the radio is passive, non interactive, unlike conversation on a phone.

It's all very well saying you are not allowed to use handsfree....but how do you prove it?
A copper may look at you and KNOW you are using your phone (Hands free) by your body language, but proving it is more difficult, it means getting your phone records, checking timing and duration of call and proving it took place at the time they said it took place...a lot of hassle for little result.

Ian

[pylofm]

I have a TOMTOM gps unit and it has bluetooth...so when I get in the van the phone connects to the gps unit and hey presto I have hands free without any hassles....

Cheers
Dave.

[Sunshine Cleaning]

What's the difference between talking hands free, and talking to a passenger, shouting at the kids, etc? Dai

Basicly a passenger will see the traffic conditions and if danger ahead they will stop talking. Plus handsfree talking requires more concentration, than talking to a passenger.

Just let the phone ring.

I dont even eat while driving.

Live long and prosper!

[Helen]

how did we manage before mobile phones :

[ac_cleaning]

I just let mine ring
al

[marcus hopkins]

Do any of you guys ever watch Road Wars on sky?
Can some-one please explain to me the hypocracy involve here regarding the police. There is video evidence here regarding high speed persuits where the driver of the police car is hareing around our streets at twice the legal speed limit while driving with one hand glued to the radio attached to his chest and his head dipped once again to the radio attached to his chest talking while he should be paying attention to the road where young children may cross. Ok who is safer? Me with my bluetooth headset or our good old law breaking bobby?

Answers on a SAE to H M Police force 

Marcus

[Londoner]

Technically the law says using a mobile phone. It doesn't have to be in your hand to get you knicked. Even a handsfree can get you charged if you have an accident and the police can prove you were on the phone.
Obviously, driving around with a phone in your ear is a bit of a givaway.

Word is smoking is next. Probably more accidents have been caused by dropped cigarettes than will ever be caused by phones.

[EasyClean]

I can't stand women drivers who spend so much time looking in their rear view mirror to check their lippie, hair and everything else and who are definitely NOT giving the road their full attention. They are more of a menace to the road than any other annoying bad habit drivers and should be BANNED !!!!!!!