14 years maximum imprisonment Police Smart cars trial

[Design]

The CCTV trial of smart car cameras by UK police is indeed a worrying development. As a disabled person with restricted reach. I purchased a new CD slot mount before Christmas and although in no way would I condone anyone operating a Android mobile or sat nav while driving. This was the best option for me getting the sucker off the windscreen.

Now my passenger can safely programme my new HTC desire of which I am still raving about.

If the information helps anyone please see the web site links below knowledge is power:

CD slot mount, New

The police 'Google cars' out to catch you driving | Mail Online

14 years imprisonment article in the Sunday Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6832386.ece

Drivers who kill while distracted by their mobile or sat-nav face five years in jail | Mail Online

 

[batgeek]

you can do crap like that to subjects.

 

[hakr100]

you can do crap like that to subjects.

Americans demand the right to be distracted while they drive dangerously and kill innocent bystanders!

 

[batgeek]

hell yeah! Team America!

 

[hakr100]

After his accident falling off the couch while eating pretzels, the former president of the USA was told not to use his cell phone while sitting down in front of the TV set.

 

[batgeek]

predictable. at least put a little effort forward.

 

[Crude]

bat geek nails it. GB = Americas future

 

[cipher6]

Americans demand the right to be distracted while they drive dangerously and kill innocent bystanders!

Car crashes and fatalities in the US are at their lowest level in about 60 years.
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1102.pdf


But the government is still contemplating forcing car makers to put equipment in your car to disable your phone...

Because the only way to be a good government regulator, is to propose more regulations.

 

[ElasticNinja]

Americans demand the right to be distracted while they drive dangerously and kill innocent bystanders!

I don't think people realise how dangerous using your phone while driving can be


judging by the posts in this thread, I genuinely worry for your country

 

[cipher6]

I don't think people realise how dangerous using your phone while driving can be

No more dangerous than adjusting the radio, putting on makeup, eating a sandwich, disciplining the kids in the back seat, trying to read a map, picking up something you dropped on the floor, or checking out the hot chick on the sidewalk.... But there are no laws against all that.

People should use common sense, when you don't people die.

If you pass laws to make up for all the stupid people you might as well just start a dictatorship. After all, dictators can save more lives, by passing laws to help stupid people by decree... Might as well move to Venezuela.

 

[Knewz]

No more dangerous than adjusting the radio, putting on makeup, eating a sandwich, disciplining the kids in the back seat, trying to read a map, picking up something you dropped on the floor, or checking out the hot chick on the sidewalk.....

All except that last one should be illegal.

I believe the reason for such a big fuss of the phone thing is because the high number of car related accidents that were caused by negligent drivers on their phones. It is a bit much to outlaw anything other function other than driving while in the car. Making laws doesn't increase common sense or awareness. People can get distracted by the simplest things.
But i personally hate when someone is texting and swerving all over the road.

 

[cipher6]

All except that last one should be illegal.

Then why not making driving itself illegal? Hurtling down the road at 60mph in a 1,000 pound chunk of metal is, itself a rather unsafe thing.

I believe the reason for such a big fuss of the phone thing is because the high number of car related accidents that were caused by negligent drivers on their phones.

Traffic fatalities are lower than they've been in 60 years.

It is a bit much to outlaw anything other function other than driving while in the car.

So then lets just pass laws about the things we see on TV?

 

[Knewz]

Then why not making driving itself illegal? Hurtling down the road at 60mph in a 1,000 pound chunk of metal is, itself a rather unsafe thing.

that was sarcasm and a joke. hince the ... sorry for the confusion

Traffic fatalities are lower than they've been in 60 years.

I didn't mean the total number of fatalities was up, but the number of negligent car fatalities when a cell phone was involved are higher.

 

[Stuntman]

I didn't mean the total number of fatalities was up, but the number of negligent car fatalities when a cell phone was involved are higher.

I'm sure that when radios in cars became more popular, the number of car fatalities when the radio was on started to go up.

 

[cjr72]

Text bans may increase accidents:
Texting Bans: Scourge of the Roadways! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

 

[Stuntman]

I believe the reason for such a big fuss of the phone thing is because the high number of car related accidents that were caused by negligent drivers on their phones.

We should just ban the negligent drivers from driving instead of banning the phones that non-negligent drivers use while not causing any crashes.

 

[Knewz]

We should just ban the negligent drivers from driving instead of banning the phones that non-negligent drivers use while not causing any crashes.

it's much easier to remove a distraction then to remove distracted people because distractions won't fight back. Even if they don't make it a national law to not drive and text, the penalties for causing an accident will still be heavy.

cipher mention "adjusting the radio, putting on makeup, eating a sandwich, disciplining the kids in the back seat, trying to read a map,". None of these are illegal to do while driving but if one is involved in a accident while performing these action, they will be consider at fault for negligence. Texting would be included here.

 

[cipher6]

I do think the difference in philosophies is interesting. Seems people from across the pond automatically assume the government should ban all things unsafe, to protect people from themselves. While the Americans seem individuals should be responsible for their actions.

cipher mention "adjusting the radio, putting on makeup, eating a sandwich, disciplining the kids in the back seat, trying to read a map,". None of these are illegal to do while driving but if one is involved in a accident while performing these action, they will be consider at fault for negligence. Texting would be included here.

So why a new law specifically targeting phones? Or why mandate car makers put devices in your car that disables your phone?

 

[Knewz]

i don't think there should be a law or mandate. People have to be responsible for their own actions. This is a case where judgement comes into play; just like adjusting your radio, fiddling with GPS, etc.

 

[cjr72]

I do think the difference in philosophies is interesting. Seems people from across the pond automatically assume the government should ban all things unsafe, to protect people from themselves. While the Americans seem individuals should be responsible for their actions.

You don't have to go all the way to Europe to witness citizens getting babied. I live in Texas now but I grew up in PA where you couldn't buy beer or wine in grocery stores, where liquor is sold in state run stores, where about the only fireworks you could buy on the 4th were sparklers, etc.

 

[cipher6]

You don't have to go all the way to Europe to witness citizens getting babied. I live in Texas now but I grew up in PA where you couldn't buy beer or wine in grocery stores, where liquor is sold in state run stores, where about the only fireworks you could buy on the 4th were sparklers, etc.

Yea, a fellow Texan!


I know, we have our own nanny crowd... but overall its interesting to see Europeans getting all worked up when Americans think of a non-government solution to problems.



Here is a uniquely American (common sense) take on this texting ban issue.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/artic...no-way-to-enforce-a-texting-while-driving-ban

 

[byteware]

Text bans may increase accidents:
Texting Bans: Scourge of the Roadways! - Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

I'm glad someone mentioned this, but I'm disappointed that it was glossed over in the discussion.

Seriously, we shouldn't be making behaviors illegal, but slapping some serious penalties on the results.

If someone causes an accident, and their cellphone was used to send text messages while they were driving, jail time.

IF someone causes an accident, and their cellphone was used to make or receive a call while they were driving, jail time.

So, people can do what they want, but know that the moment what they want hurts someone else... there are going to be serious consequences.

That's the way this should work.

 

[Member243850]

I love how some zealots are trying to equate texting to drunk driving.

Hmmmmmm..........

I do not mean to insult you dude but try to be more polite. It almost always works out to be polite to people in the end. It is a good practice.

Now, when I text, I have to look down, then up, then down, then up.

No offence friend but I don't think this is a good idea. You should try to keep as much attention on the road as possible at all times. It is not safe to do this i think.

But i do agree that if you are not holding your phone in your hand and it is in a cradle or even you use a hands free kit ... then you should be free to talk and drive. Many people do this already.

It is very safe actually to do this.

I wish you well dude

Regards

Stinks

 

[cjr72]

It seems to me that if a cop sees someone drifting into other lanes they should be able to give a ticket for distracted/reckless driving regardless of whether the person is texting, fiddling with the radio, putting on makeup or is just simply a bad driver.

 

[Slug]

Seems people from across the pond automatically assume the government should ban all things unsafe, to protect people from themselves.

Not to protect people from themselves, to protect people from other selfish idiots who decide that taking a phone call while driving through a busy urban environment is more important than paying full attention, take a corner too wide, can't rectify the mistake fast enough due to only having one hand on the steering wheel, and thus plough into a guy standing waiting for the lights to change so he can cross the road to meet his fiancee. Now he's in a wheelchair, a promising rugby career ended and unable to father the family they were looking forward to starting. It's hard to be in favour of "responsibility" when you've seen a friend's world torn apart because of someone else's lack of it.