As I'm shored up at Gassage Towers with busted ribs I have watched this unfold today and 10 years is a minimum for me
I am no angel in previous times- I have called and texted with impunity whilst driving, but since getting proper bluetooth and so on a few years ago, I rarely if ever do it. I will admit I have done in the past, but those that have my number know I won't reply when driving. I'll answer a call with the iDrive system, but that's it
However, seeing the impact this has had on the lives of so many, the deaths caused and so on, I swear down I'll never do it again. it's bloody stupid.
I won't accept either that one or two with a clear road is fine.
If no one ever does this again then there can't be a repeat incident, simple.
I feel very strongly about this- it is so avoidable.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Comments
This one upset me too.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/19/cyclist-julie-dinsdale-lost-leg-lorry-collision-driver-625-fine
Fucking stupid humans.
https://soundcertified.com/speaker-ohms-calculator/
I also believe in ears should be banned- takes away spatial awareness IMO
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
My job depends on me being contactable at all times but there is no way I would text/mail whilst driving.
This story upsets/frightens me too - especially as I tend to get a bit twitchy when I'm the last car in a line of stopped traffic as you have no idea if the car/lorry/bus coming behind you has observed the brake lights/road signs/traffic ahead and could quite easily cause another accident like this.
10 years is not enough IMO, he has killed 4 people and traumatised many more...
As for being caught using mobile, it should be instant ban + hefty fine.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
The temptation to kick one of their wing mirrors off is almost overwhelming.
I just came back from a trip into London and was on the bike- nearly got taken out by a dumbfuck in a 4x4 playing on his phone whilst changing lanes. Cunt.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
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My last employers banned the use of phones (Bluetooth or not) in the company cars which I don't think was a bad thing.
The usual "I'll be home in 10 mins" thing is fine, but to start in depth conversations about things whilst driving is a no-no - I got caught speeding on M4 while on my handsfree - trying to help a guy fix a dead server and concentrating more on the call than the road.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
So dangerous, even on full bluetooth speakerphone system I find I can arrive after chatting and not remember the journey. I'm sure we are aware but it can't be as much as if you are just watching where you are going!
Actually the conversation is what causes you to lose interest in your surroundings. See here for example. conversations with passengers are different because they notice when the driver's attention is alerted to a hazard.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Doesn't half make it real when you hear something like that.
EDIT: Eileen, the stepdaughter.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
I have bluetooth in my car and the handsfree works really well but I still don't take anything that will be more than a minute or so. And I use Siri for telling my phone what music to play.
I certainly don't text or whatsapp or Facebook or whatever while driving and I have no idea why anyone would. Setting your satnav while sat a traffic lights is one thing but the moment your car is moving you can kill someone in seconds if you're not paying attention.
We're at the point where only an insta-ban for getting caught, and lifetime ban for causing an accident would be a deterrent.