Fine not really big enough

[The PIT]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6399407.stm

Sixty pounds won't deter many people I'm afraid. Need to be around £1000 and an instant ban which is the only way to get the message through.

Disagree about handsfree otherwise you'd have to ban conversation in Vehiclkes as well so that bit is nonesense.

It's also time they clamped down on Mobile disco's and Red Light hoppers.

[The PIT]

Ah and amusing comments

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&threadID=5651&start=0&tstart=0&edition=1&ttl=20070227201229&#paginator

[Brian Ellis]

I was driving to work this morning, when an idiot on a mobile pulled straight out in front of me. I had to brake really hard to avoid him. What a mess, my cornflakes went all over the place, scalding hot coffee all down my front, my paper was ruined....if it was up to me, I would lock them up for life.

However, I agree with the handsfree, as well. It states quite clearly

Motorists will also be prosecuted for using a hands-free phone if they are not in control of their vehicle.

What is wrong with that? It seems eminently fair. Anybody not in control of their vehicle should be prosecuted for endangering the lives of others.

[az]

I'm with Brian. Also, tests have shown that talking on a hands-free distracts you almost as bad as talking with a phone in hand, much more than having a conversation in the car. Why? Because the person you're talking to is unaware of the situation. If you're talking to somebody in your car, they will shut up and not expect you to talk when it becomes obvious that you need your concentration for the road now (which happens more often than one would estimate - and we really can't concentrate at two things at once. We start interleaving timeslots, which is bad in a time-critical realtime application like traffic because we don't do it as fast as we might think. Slots may be a good second in length, in which we're completely oblivious of what's going on - the brain interpolates and we think we know what's happening, but we don't). A person on the phone demands (not literally, of course) your attention (and gets it) regardless of traffic, because they're unaware of it.

I also agree with you, pit: We need higher fines for something like that. The fine here is laughable as well, I believe it's 60 EUR. I want a fine system like in certain scandinavian states, where fines are progressive with income - a millionnaire would laugh about a 1000 EUR fine as well. I think one very rich young scandinavian had to pay a few hundred thousand once - which hurts him just as much as if I had to pay a hundred.

[Nowhere]

Incidentally, the only time when I had to use brakes hard to not hit someone's car, was when the driver in said car was unaware due to phone (normal, no hands-free) that I'm there and he has to let me first... (I believe he didn't noticed me even after the horn next to his side...)

[TransformX]

Well, with hands free at least you have your two hands to use. How many times have you seen someone leaving the steering wheel to change gears, because their other hand was busy holding the cell phone? I've seen it too many times to count.

[The PIT]

However, I agree with the handsfree, as well. It states quite clearly
What is wrong with that? It seems eminently fair. Anybody not in control of their vehicle should be prosecuted for endangering the lives of others.

Responding az in this one as well.

I think you're both wrong. People don't shut up when you're driving. I just filter them out when I need too just like I would do with a hands free phone. Ever seen a screaming kid shut up just becuase Mums or Dads driving nope I think not.

Too be honest following your logic conversations would have to banned radio's etc as they can all in theory provide a distraction. Kids would to have be banned as well.

The other daft thing if your engines running but you've got the handbreak on and pullked over you can still get prosecuted. How the heck are you not in control of the vehicle then.

[degrub]

THe real issue is verbal communication shuts off the visual input as the brain focuses on the conversation first before any other input. Doesn't matter if you are on a phone, listening to the radio, or talking.

[Brian Ellis]

Well, with hands free at least you have your two hands to use. How many times have you seen someone leaving the steering wheel to change gears, because their other hand was busy holding the cell phone? I've seen it too many times to count.

They should buy a car with automatic transmission!

[Wulfman]

Too be honest following your logic conversations would have to banned radio's etc as they can all in theory provide a distraction.

I think there was a long discussion way back when the first car radios showed about doing exactly that.

mfg
wulfman

[The PIT]

THe real issue is verbal communication shuts off the visual input as the brain focuses on the conversation first before any other input. Doesn't matter if you are on a phone, listening to the radio, or talking.

Nah not if it's a Womens talking cos the natural filter swings into action and 90% of the conversation is discarded anyway.

At the end of the day you've got to apply some common sense. People will talk in cars which is no different from a hands free phone.

If you're going to apply the law to hands free you've also going to have to make it illegal for Mothers or fathers to drive alone in a car with a child. How many times do you see a Mother head turned towards the back becuase the babys screaming.

Mobile disco's are slightly different matter as they also a pollutant and often so loud I'm 100% sure that driver cannot hear any emergency services or anyone warning them of there prescense i.e horn. The sheer volume must be an distraction. They simply should be banned. Plus they sound crap.