e-Petition Use of mobile phones
Please sign this e-Petition to raise the penalties for driving whilst using a mobile phone to those currently administered for driving without insurance... e.g. six points and £200 fine.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35017
Please feel free to post to other groups or friends
Regards
MJG
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35017
Please feel free to post to other groups or friends
Regards
MJG
0
Posts
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools
Surely its better that the person who is driving dangerously while on the phone gets a different penalty than someone who is just distracted?
Stretching & Workout Vids
The difference between dangerous driving while on the phone and distracted driving is mere happenstance. The danger occurs when the distractedness collides with unfortunate traffic conditions. Given that all the research I've come across shows that driving using a mobile, i.e. distractedly, reduces the ability to concentrate by an even greater amount than driving while under the influence, to try to distinguish between dangerous and distracted driving is pointless
http://www.facebook.com/groups/eastbradfordcyclingclub/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/eastbradfordcyclingclub/
The problem I have with the mobile phone law is its a construction and use offence, so its seen by most as nothing more serious that a speeding ticket or parking fine. A technical infringement of the law rather than something which has the potential to be dangerous. Its also very easy for most to get off, due to the technical definition required. By amending the definitions of the bad driving offences (inconsiderate, due care, and dangerous) we'd have had a nice scaled offence based on the level of bad driving caused by the use of the phone. It could also have wrapped up any other distracting device, such as those currently excluded e.g. certain smart phones, pda, tablet, sat nav stereo 2-way radio etc.
Stretching & Workout Vids
I'm sure this is true, the City Police in London admitted to me in a letter that they do not enforce ASL boxes at junctions because they do not feel the penalties for entering ASLs on motorists are fair
Secondly in London a high number of ASL are not painted in compliance with required specification, so the police would have to become experts in the requirements too.
If we wanted Police to enforce ASLs, then we should expect them to also enforce them against cyclists who do not stop at the white line on red also. Personally, I have never seen the logic in placing the most vulnerable road users ahead of the traffic, where they appear to be directly in harms way. Just last night I was commuting out of London (motorbike) and stopped at a traffic light along with a bunch other bikers. At least 10 cyclists cycled to the front of the Lights passing over the white line (there was no ASL) and stopped and waited. This caused annoyance to most of the bikers waiting, as the cyclists had blocked them in. I think a lot of cyclists are unaware/don't care about other road users safety needs. Motorcyclists also suffer from being rear ended at lights and have the same needs as cyclists to get away promptly from the lights to get ahead of the danger.
There seems to be a view that we can do what we like but everyone else should drive with the utmost consideration under threat of sever prosecution if they don't. Its human nature that if you are discourteous to others they wont be particularly considerate to you either.
Stretching & Workout Vids
I'm fairly experienced and assertive, I like to think I've got a reasonable idea of what I'm doing and I'm able to judge when I'm better off ignoring the ASL and cyclelane. I'll filter or not depending on the circumstances. It always seems to me that it's the less 'serious' cyclists who just follow the path that's been painted for them and stay in 'their' bit of road :cycle lanes and ASLs.
"As I said last time, it won't happen again."