Mobile Phone Use.

cashman · 20-12-2015, 15:45

Seems Government are to consider a proposal to "Increase Fines @ Points Awarded, for use when driving, personally i think thats pathetic, it should be an Automatic Ban in my view, its a very dangerous practice and needs proper action,

Barrie Yates · 20-12-2015, 15:47

Quite agree Cashy, at least a 12 month ban, hefty fine and a retake of their test.

maxthecollie · 20-12-2015, 16:29

Totall agree. There is no excuse now a days not to have a hands free kit in a car

accyman · 20-12-2015, 16:35

with further police cuts i highly doubt there will be more arrests just the same if not less arrests for it just bigger fines

the law gets enforced less but the revenue stays the same or increases

one thing you can always count on is the government getting their money

i would feel more confident if i didnt see coppers just watching red light jumpers and doing nowt about it on a regular basis its bad enough tehres a limited police force but when what little we do have cant be arsed doing their job nowt gets done

accyman · 20-12-2015, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Totall agree. There is no excuse now a days not to have a hands free kit in a car

a fiver will get you somat to go in your ear and a couple more quid will get you something that clips to your visor and provides audio from a little speaker

if yo can afford to run a car yo can afford a device that allows you to use your phone legally

Barrie Yates · 20-12-2015, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by accyman

i would feel more confident if i didnt see coppers just watching red light jumpers and doing nowt about it on a regular basis its bad enough tehres a limited police force but when what little we do have cant be arsed doing their job nowt gets done

I think that the problem is the offence needs to be recorded before the Police can be sure of a successful prosecution. The answer is of course to have cameras, but the powers that be in LCC have decided that cameras at junctions could cause a problem for other drivers - who knows what planet they come from. London has cameras at most controlled junctions, also ones that cover boxed junctions - do LCC think that the technology that is widespread in our capital city is too advanced for us backward Lancastrians?

accyman · 20-12-2015, 20:27

you are correct Barrie they are concerned the second person going through a red light may hit the first one that jumped the red light if he brakes hard after been flashed

what they are not concerned about is a child that may set off at the green man , a bind person crossing because the beeps say he or she can or the poor sod obeying the law coming from the other direction and setting off on green

Margaret Pilkington · 20-12-2015, 20:55

There is no point whatsoever in having a law that is not policed......it might just as well not be on the books.
I regularly see drivers using mobile phones...and the more these drivers use their phone and get away without a penalty, the more they think the law does not apply.
Personally, I would not only ban them, but I would confiscate the vehicle too....and if that vehicle belonged to their employer or some finance company they ( the company ) would have to seek reparation from the driver.
I don't reckon it would take too many prosecutions for the message to get through.
There is NO reason for a driver to be on the move and taking a phone call.
How hard is it for them to park up if a call is really that important?

Barrie Yates · 21-12-2015, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by accyman

you are correct Barrie they are concerned the second person going through a red light may hit the first one that jumped the red light if he brakes hard after been flashed

what they are not concerned about is a child that may set off at the green man , a bind person crossing because the beeps say he or she can or the poor sod obeying the law coming from the other direction and setting off on green

Must take a long time for our esteemed LCC to catch up on technology - the junction cameras in London don't need a flash and they certainly work.

Michael1954 · 21-12-2015, 20:23

Am I right in thinking that the police cannot act if a member of the public reports someone has used a phone while driving? I seem to think the police have to have witnessed it themselves, but correct me if I am wrong. If, however, I am right, I would like this changed so that the police have to follow up on complaints.

By the way, I have voted for increased fines and points, but I would like this to be vigorously enforced. I would vote for a ban when using a phone caused an accident.

Margaret Pilkington · 21-12-2015, 20:46

Yes, you are right Michael...a police officer has to witness the event.
They don't act on members of the public reporting such offences because there is no evidence.
I am not sure how this would stand up if you had video evidence. Our car has a camera in it......it faces forward, but could be adjusted to capture evidence of a driver using a phone whilst driving.

Barrie Yates · 21-12-2015, 21:58

Not sure if the police have to witness use of a phone as the phone will have a record of a call being made/received at the time that the car was being driven. However, it is far more likely that if the police actually witness the event that there will be a successful prosecution.
Fines and points don't appear to be too much of a deterrent, which is why I voted for an outright ban, that way they are really hit and will not be able to cause an accident for 12 months at least - I am all for a hefty fine and double points as well.

Barrie Yates · 21-12-2015, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Yes, you are right Michael...a police officer has to witness the event.
They don't act on members of the public reporting such offences because there is no evidence.
I am not sure how this would stand up if you had video evidence. Our car has a camera in it......it faces forward, but could be adjusted to capture evidence of a driver using a phone whilst driving.

If a vehicle is involved in an accident the Police will breathalyse the drivers and also check whether the drivers phones were in use at the time of the accident.

cashman · 21-12-2015, 22:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael1954

Am I right in thinking that the police cannot act if a member of the public reports someone has used a phone while driving? I seem to think the police have to have witnessed it themselves, but correct me if I am wrong. If, however, I am right, I would like this changed so that the police have to follow up on complaints.

By the way, I have voted for increased fines and points, but I would like this to be vigorously enforced. I would vote for a ban when using a phone caused an accident.

Please enlighten, How would it be vigorously enforced? They cant even enforce parking illegally, also should it be regarded as ok, if no accident occurs,? I seriously reckon,the threat of a ban will enforce with a lot more people than increased fines and points,

Michael1954 · 21-12-2015, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

Please enlighten, How would it be vigorously enforced? They cant even enforce parking illegally, also should it be regarded as ok, if no accident occurs,? I seriously reckon,the threat of a ban will enforce with a lot more people than increased fines and points,

Not what I'm saying at all, Cashy, and I think you know it. However, I will clarify: no it's not OK to use a phone as long as there isn't an accident. I've voted for increased points and a bigger fine, which should be as easy (or as difficult) to enforce as an outright ban. Can I also add that hands-free equipment in a car can be distracting; I know from my own experience, which is why I no longer use one. I now always switch my phone off before driving.