Ban Even Hands Free?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49320473
what do we think?

[webbo3]

impossible to police, they struggle to catch people using hand held phones.

[bhg481]

Certainly chatting on the phone is a distraction but how on earth would they enforce a ban on hands-free? You're driving, singing along to the radio, and some bright spark says you're on the phone.

[tiggerblue10]

Should we not talk to passengers when driving in that case?

[Old_Geezer]

I think it's a nonsense. The car radio is a distraction. The sat nav is a distraction. Road signs are a distraction. Nasty coppers pointing radar guns at you are a distraction. As are radar vans in unwarranted 20mph streets. Kids in the back are a distraction. Etc. Etc. Etc.

One can't go banning everything, there has to be common sense. Although that always seems to be lacking in authorities. Anyway if hands free is banned hopefully all the emergency services and delivery vehicles will be removing their radios too.

Another ruddy stupid suggestion giving one despair at the human race.

[tiggerblue10]

Can't wait for the self-driving cars.

[ummmm]

Yes, I think they should.

Talking to a person in the car is different to talking to someone on the phone.

[Baldric]

I have a hands free system in my car, as do the the rest of us, it is a
simple one push of a button and converse, no problem, what is the issue?

[rockyracoon]

I must admit, I rarely use my bluetooth in the car. I find it very distracting, much more so than speaking to a passenger.

[rockyracoon]

As for banning it, puh! Every other car round here has an idiot behind the wheel with a phone stuck to their ear. They don't seem to get caught.

[SlackAlice]

"There were 773 casualties on Britain's roads in 2017, including 43 deaths and 135 serious injuries, in crashes where a driver using any kind of mobile was a contributory factor, the committee said in a report."

I'd support such a ban. I would suspect being almost impossible to achieve a significant success rate.

I do own a mobile but do not answer it whilst driving. Its not even 'paired' to my car.

[Togo]

If hands free is to be banned then the next logical step is to ban conversing with passengers, listening to the radio,(is anything more of a distraction than inadvertently catching the Beep Beep See "news"?) and transporting children unless they are in a sound proof cage. Just more gum bumping from the one issue zealots.

[Ellipsis]

It's a nonsense. What next, no passengers? No children in the back seats in car seats? No dogs in cages in the back of the estate car? No radios? No roadside ads? No distractions of any kind ...

[tiggerblue10]

I've only ever answered 1 call using my bluetooth and it was a cold caller telling me that I'd had an imaginary car accident in the last 2 years. I only answered it because I forgot the ear piece was still in my ear. Otherwise, I don't make or take calls when driving.

[Ellipsis]

Sorry Togo, that's how long it takes me to type on my mobile ...

[douglas9401]

We think a case can be made for anything if enough spraff is forthcoming to back it up.

Nonsensical proposal in danger of bringing the law into disrepute in a vain attempt to be seen to be doing something.

[nailit]

Think that (talking) sat navs are more dangerous than hand free kits.
Bloody hate the things, one recently nearly got me in a pile up by sending me down a one way street in my van.
Talking hands free on my phone...not a problem. Listening to sat nav with no sense of roadworks...oh****!

Just give me a good old fashioned map anytime.

[douglas9401]

That's operator error, nailit, a map wouldn't know about roadworks either.

[Ryzen]

If distracted driving is the latest crime theme, then spend a minute watching the cars exiting the local Mc Donalds drive through!

[nailit]

//That's operator error, nailit, a map wouldn't know about roadworks either.//
No, but with paper and pen and a map I could work out a better route.
I used to drive a 7 1/2 wagon about the country...long before the days of sat naves etc. Never once encountered a problem. Along comes technology to make life easier and it didn't!!

[douglas9401]

Ah, okay, I see. Makes perfect sense when you put it like that.