Mobile Phones

[Fallen Angel]

My reason for asking this is that I have been known to use my mobile on the odd occasion, very rarely, but that's not the point, I know (I know I'm going to get shot down by this, but I'm being honest right), however, while out at lunch there, a twat in a white van was driving behind me along the road (I was in the car)! I noticed he was on a mobile and kind of rolled my eyes to myself, I know, I've got a cheek!!

Anyway, we were both driving along quite the thing and then I glanced in my mirror and I swear to gawd, he was about a meter away from my bumper OR LESS! We were doing 70mph!!!

I felt like hammering my breaks on just to teach the cnut a lesson, but decided he's not worth it and just moved over to the other lane then drew him a big dirty look as he pulled right beside me.

Anyway, I have made the decision today that I WILL NOT USE MY MOBILE IN THE CAR EVER AGAIN WITHOUT A HANDS-FREE KIT - even though, like I said earlier it was only on the odd occasion that I did do it.

Back to the poll, it got me wondering, just exactly what everyone else did - now be honest if you answer this folks, no need to post a message, just interested in the results.

Cheers
Fran
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I have an asshole tolerance level of -10
www.cliqueyclanmcc.co.uk
www.bebo.com/fallenangelfran

[sychosis]

I'll always pull over if it's safe to do so, otherwise I ignore it or get whoever is in the car with me to answer it.
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Bikes owned: Aprilia RS 125 GP1 2003 (Now sold), Suzuki GSX-r600 1997 (streetfightered), https://www.bikepics.com/members/sychosis/
psy?cho?sis (si-ko-sis),n. pl. psy?cho?ses (-sez) ,A severe mental disorder, with or without organic damage, characterized by derangement of personality and loss of contact with reality and causing deterioration of normal social functioning.

[Sparks!]

I don't drive so can't really comment as I've never done it before (obviously) but I have put the phone down on members of management at work when they called me whilst driving.....

All vehicles now have proper car kits thankfully, but I happily hung up on important calls from management when they did it before

Thankfully they understook why
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[headlamp]

My current mission is to evangalise the dangers of mobile phone use whilst driving!! I consider myself fortunate not to have been killed or injured by a driver using their phone. At least once a week on my commute in London I am 'not noticed' by a driver on the phone, the worst incident happening last week when a woman in a BMW (!) changed lanes without warning whilst on the phone. I avoided her by swerving into the other carriageway - where fortunately nothing was coming the other way (rare for the North Circular Road in the rush hour).

I am particularly pleased the Government is introducing beefed up fines and points for using a mobile while driving, however I need to be convinced as to how this law will be enforced. My acquaintances in the Met think it is going to be challenging without photographic evidence and as Police have to wear high vis jackets when near roads, then offenders are going to see them a mile off and drop the phone. They are testing their covert vans for this but the results so far are patchy. I am afraid the only way the message is going to get across is that their is an accident involving a mobile phone user and death and the user is prosecuted and jailed.
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Using a mobile phone while driving a car should be made a capital offence!

[synaptyx]

Never, not even when it was legal. I see idiots doing it every day, the law change has had no effect around here as far as I can tell. If you're doing anything other than driving whilst driving you're a fool. Listening to the radio is ok as long as you're not fiddling with it trying to get Jazz FM.

[steveh]

well dont drive so cant really say, but bar from stuffing the mobile in my lid, no i always pull over and answer or leave it, well only done it once but put my hand in my pocket and switched it off, only to find that it was my boss telling me i had left my over trousers at work was raining the next morning too

Steve
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[JonB]

Don't drive a car, but I use a handsfree kit for my phone and manage to fit the ear piece in my helmet, the phone answers automatically and I can still talk whilst riding, though it seems really stupid talking to myself in a helmet.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[zx636]

Got a bluetooth phone and headset which means I can shout and it will answer a call or I can shout a name from the address book "in the mode of Benny Hill" and it will dial the number. Not always the right number I may add.
I sometimes use it in the car but still think its a distraction.

The phone is switched off when I'm on the bike. Maybe I need a bluetooth enabled lid.

[Davo]

I will never use phone on the move unless it's hands free, my employer kindly provided a hard wired handsfree kit for my car, which was quite convienient as I have the same phone as my work one. I've been looking into buying one of these AutoComm devices for my Bike, but the problem is my lid is a little bit noisy, so i'm not sure how effective it's going to be.

Although the law banning using mobile phones whilst driving appears to have caused an undesired side effect, in that cage drivers are finding the most dangerous place to park to answer their mobiles.

[TheShaggyDA]

Mostly use my hands free kit, but on occasion I do just use the phone.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[yambabe]

Never used my phone whilst driving, and never will. Don't have handsfree, & not interested in it.

I've had too many close calls to even contemplate doing it myself.

I've got voicemail, if it's important they'll leave a message. If they can't be arsed leaving a message, well it wasn't that important was it?!!
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Blitz_]

Is there any way of using phone on a bike? Did anyone try to use bluetooth under helmet? Or it is not allowed?

[stryker]

I've seen people using a phone in the car and be perfectly safe. I think the people who cause a problem using a phone are also the people who are pretty shite at driving without the phone too.
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Now what?

[Bendy]

I've never understood why people feel it's so important to answer the phone... if it's truely important, the caller will keep ringing and ringing so you'll know it's a big deal. Otherwise, they can leave a message or call back later.

I remember someone throwing a mental cos his missus called his mobile and apparently he HAD to answer it and it was entirely her fault that he was distracted and took the wrong exit on the roundabout, ending up back on the motorway.

[Jammy-G]

[Demonic69]

Handsfree kits are damn near free these days, but you always see some eegit with their head cocked to their shoulder, or overon the hard shoulder with the Hazards on, purely to say "I'm on my way".
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[headlamp]

[Fallen Angel]

The results are interesting on this poll - I think!

Still goes to show that loads of us (not any more mind you) still do it - even though we are bikers!
____________________
I have an asshole tolerance level of -10
www.cliqueyclanmcc.co.uk
www.bebo.com/fallenangelfran

[stryker]

[Minky_monkey]

Guilty as charged.

Not often, but every now and again. Stupd thing is, I`ve got a bluetooth headset which is currently broken and need replacing.

[Bendy]

[Demonic69]

We are, those of us who only ride
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Sadie]

I use a hands free kit on the bike, but only if I'm going to be on the bike for a couple of hours or more.

For ordinary going to work journeys, I wouldn't bother.

Just for the record, pulling over to answer your phone is still an offence if you don't switch the engine off.
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With experience comes age.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I don't use a mobile when moving. Just don't feel happy in any way thinking about doing it, and that is not related to actually holding a phone.

However I do think it is perfectly possible to use the phone while driving safely, but it depends on the user. As long as it is not a conversation requiring any great thought (say, "on my way home" or "don't go this way there is a tailback") and they are prepared to literally drop the phone should something come up then I can see no real problem.

It seems rather silly that a blanket ban has been brought in which bears little resemblance to any actual safety issues. Sat still in a traffic jam, unable to move but with the engine running and you are still liable for prosecution. Use the wrong hands free kit and you are still liable for prosection.

The existing laws before this were perfectly adequate for the people who were a danger. Mobile phone use was well within the rules for driving without due care and attention. However that requires some evidence and is thus harder to enforce than a blanket ban. Personally I would prefer that they prosecuted 90% of those posing a risk and no others rather than 100% of those posing a risk and 10 times that number who were no risk.

[hustler]