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30 minutes of madness
Date published: 02 September 2010
RECORD numbers of motorists are being prosecuted for driving while using a mobile phone.
But the safety message is still not getting through.
The Oldham Chronicle photographed six motorists — including a taxi driver — breaking the law in the space of half an hour at Mumps roundabout.
If they had been caught by the police they could have been hit with a £60 fine and three points on their licence.
Don’t be a mobile menace: distraction can kill. The Chronicle has campaigned for better driving since 2006
Comments
A hands free car kit is cheaper than the fine imposed £60. Then you can help save lives whilst looking like you talk to yourself.........i do......no you dont.....yes i do
Studies have shown that using a mobile while driving is more dangerous than drink driving, and yet our spineless politicians judged that motorists would find a driving ban for using one unacceptable. Most of the cause for this was the untramelled greed of road cameras and the 'road safety' lobby, creating an attack on drivers so great that an outright ban was unacceptable.
The road safety bunch cried wolf too often - hardly anyone gets booked for mobile phone abuse, let the Police make a profit
another reason why we need traffic police. Camera's wont catch these morons. What's the point of laws if there's no one to enforce them?
Yes these people are far worse than the hundreds of thousands who ruin our town centres with booze fulled binges each weekend and who cram our A&E departments with alcohol related injuries putting an incredible strain on the NHS.
It is an offence, but why demonise this more than the massive social problems alcohol and tobacco cause??
I'd go further than MarkH. Bearing in mind Flake's commenst regarding studies (which I've also seen) I'd give them an automatic 12 month ban. If it's good enough for being over the limit, then it's good enough for using a mobile phone.
And why are people still allowed to take their hands off the wheel to smoke a cigarette whilst driving ???
I agree with Mark H. It's time society got serious and got these morons off the road.
Once again well done to The Chron. Maybe you should send your photographer out for half an hour once a week at various busy junctions in Oldham. Not only should you publish your pictures, but copies should also be sent to the police. Company logos on vans should also be published in the paper, rather than just the driver's face.
Maybe the Chron' should hand over the details of the number plates to the police?
I was at the roundabout when the photographer was there and can I say I found him more distracting pointing his large lense towards the traffic. Don't get me wrong, I never use a mobile while driving and I think the fine should be increased and include points on the licence. I just thought a roundabout at the end of a busy dual carriageway was not the right place to point a camera at people.
okay it is an offense to use your mobile while driving,it is dangerous,but what makes it safe to use your mobile or radio if you are a police officer or taxi driver.whats the difference,especially if the police use it while travelling at speed.just curious.
Thou Dumber : there is no law against smoking in a car. Nor is there one which says you can't take a hand off to turn up the radio volume, change station, pick up a sweet etc. The only laws would be failing to maintain proper control, careless/dangerous driving, due care etc. Those laws would have sufficiently dealt with the offence of using a mobile phone whilst driving & there was no need for a new law. I suppose it's the amount of concentration required to use a phone compared to smoking.
excromptoncc : police aren't allowed to use a mobile phone or a hand held radio (airwaves) set whilst driving. Police vehicles are fitted with a lever above the steering column, similar to the indicator lever. Pull it towards you & you can transmit. You don't have to take your hands off the steering wheel as you can use a finger or two to pull the lever. As far as I'm aware, taxi driver's aren't exempt.
Peter, there is a law against smoking in a car if it is your place of work, and any company car or van would come under this.
Peter - I totally agree with your comment. The one difference I would say regarding smoking as opposed to turning up the radio; picking up a sweet, etc., is that smokers hold the cigarette in their hand all the time (as those do who hold a mobile phone) - therefore how can they always have full control of their vehicle ?
Have Your Say
I'd adopt a zero tolerance policy with regards to this problem; instant 6 month ban and a £500 fine.
There is absolutely no reason to use your phone when driving, it's that simple.
By MarkH @ 02/09/2010 13:09:06