Why do they do it? - mobile phones!
Posted by BORO-UTB@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 73 comments
I’m sure a lot of you have noticed as well as myself, but there is still a lot of people who insist on reading or texting with their mobile phone whilst driving! This may be controversial, but the majority that I see are women, do they not realise how dangerous this is? A moments lapse can result in a death - just bear that in mind? Most say “It won’t happen to me”. Your thoughts?
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aurora_ethereallight@reddit
Completely agree. The phone stays in the handbag when I'm driving. There is no reason for it to be out.
rmulberryb@reddit
The majority of people I see doing it are men.
sweggles3900@reddit
I've only ever seen men doing this, never a woman. I think most men think they're the best drivers on the road so they feel like they can type and drive and be fine, but women are generally more careful while driving and are less likely to pick up the phone to do something while driving. This is just my own observations.
ancapailldorcha@reddit
I nearly got hit by a woman who went through a pedestrian crossing at over 80 miles per hour. She was on her phone. It took me a minute or two to recover.
Spottyjamie@reddit
Men are making calls, women are texting/whatsapp/social media imo
Sudden_Star_5130@reddit
Both as bad as eachother.
rmulberryb@reddit
Balanced as all things should be /j Just thought I'd add my own irrelevant anecdotal experience, since OP thought to do it. And just like OP's it means jack shit.
Sudden_Star_5130@reddit
Haha I know what you mean buddy its personal experience, I see both doing it on my travels which is why I said they are as bad as eachother.
rmulberryb@reddit
Aw mate, I thought you meant me and OP! 😂
Sudden_Star_5130@reddit
Lol no didn't mean that all I can understand why you misunderstood.
altheothersweretaken@reddit
Same here, and usually van drivers
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
I amazes me that people who drive for a living would take these risks with their licence.
Saw a bloke in a liveried van on his mobile drive through a red pedestrian crossing at school morning rush hour. Managed to get the reg plate and company name and phoned to complain!
rmulberryb@reddit
Lmao babe (fondly), what makes you think they have a license in the first place? 😂😂😂
Mental_Body_5496@reddit
Fair point babes 😘
Life-Bedroom-8886@reddit
As your observation doesn’t reflect the recent study data, is it possible that observer bias has corrupted your data?
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seatbelt-and-mobile-phone-use-surveys-2023/mobile-phone-use-by-drivers-england-2023#by-sex-and-age
I’m firmly of the view that those observed using a mobile phone whilst driving should be stopped by the police and forced to smash their device to pieces with a big hammer before being allowed to continue.
Voidition@reddit
But the study does say that the observed amount of women driving cars while using a mobile phone is twice the observed amount of men - 0.2% women and 0.1% men
littleowl36@reddit
No it doesn't? The rates for both genders are lower in cars compared with all vehicles, but the genders are in the same order. 0.2% of car driving men and 0.1% of car driving women.
borokish@reddit
I think it should be smashed to pieces with the person's face.
Sudden_Star_5130@reddit
Firm but fair
Fr0sthetic@reddit
A lot of people are addicted to their phones. When driving, people have different thresholds for justifying it. Maybe someone would only text when drive on a long open road, but some would do it in a crowded 30 mph zone. All are obviously wrong in what they do and all would no doubt give anything to turn back the clock if they hit and killed someone.
Perhaps there's not enough education, or policing, or harsh enough penalties for it.
It's a trade off and you'll get people complaining about nanny state, too much CCTV (some modern traffic cams can detect you using your phone) etc.
Just_Eat_User@reddit
Nothing to do with education...speak to anyone and they know the risks. People are just so addicted to their phones, they believe its a risk worth taking.
The only deterrant now is an automatic one year ban if caught doing so. Because people think 6 points is worth the risk if they've got another 6 or so to play around with.
Fr0sthetic@reddit
I disagree it's nothing to do with education, it's definitely a part of it. I'd love to see a government sponsored advert of a family where one of the parents has been caught and they consider the full knock on effect of the fine and the insurance increase. Then caught again and the knock on consequences of losing your job etc.
Or the one someone else linked here - I think it's young adults texting and end up crashing, rolling and dead.
starsandbribes@reddit
Its even sillier now with so many hands free options. I can press in the speaker button on the steering wheel, ask it to text my partner and verbally say my message, and say send. I never have to touch or look at my phone once.
Just_Eat_User@reddit
They cant scroll through Instagram or keep up to date in the group chat using the hands free options.
alonebeans@reddit
nice one cycling mikey
Indigo-Waterfall@reddit
That’s funny, the majority I see of this are men, typically men in vans. But I don’t think it’s a gender thing. I think many people really are addicted to their phones and cannot wait.
OblongGoblong@reddit
OP creepin on women drivers lol
DEADB33F@reddit
NGL I'll glance down read a one-line Whatsapp message when it pops up on the notification screen while driving (phone is on a hands-free holder thingy). I won't type while driving though.
I just need to figure out how to enable the voice command so I can "voice reply to last whatsapp message". I tried ages ago but couldn't figure it out.
poshbakerloo@reddit
So many cars allow how voice typing anyway so there is no need to hold the phone
BadDatesClub@reddit
Put the phone in the glove box. Don't let it be a distraction in the first place.
If you're typing a message even with your voice, that's not driving with full due care and attention.
I'm not a fan of these huge screens in cars either, just as dangerous for someone to tap away on that whilst driving.
SomeHSomeE@reddit
People are careless, entitled, and have an inflated view of their own driving abilities.
jmsld_@reddit
I hope this comment has 100% upvotes
whosafeard@reddit
Like speeding and drink driving, it’s the logical fallacy of “I got away with it all the other times, so I’m probably going to get away with it this time” that kills people.
funkmachine7@reddit
But with drink driving you can convince your self that your not that far over the limt.
oportoman@reddit
Fuckwits, "oh it's important!", "oh it's only for a few moments ', "oh nobody will see"
ballsosteele@reddit
Amount of times I've nearly been run as a cyclist by a Chelsea tractor whose driver was more interested in the loud, inane conversation she was having on her phone than what was happening the road.
Ok-Advantage3180@reddit
The thing is, people know they’re unlikely to suffer any major repercussions, even if they’re caught. There needs to be better repercussions for these people in order for any major changes to happen
kelleehh@reddit
At least a one month driving ban and hefty fine for these idiots. It might deter them with no exceptions round it either.
CrimpsShootsandRuns@reddit
I absolutely despise it. It's so fucking dangerous and should be socially condemned in the same way drink driving is. I passed some young lad waiting for cars to come through yesterday with a dog on his lap and his phone right up in front of his face. I'm non-confrontational by nature, but a few things get me wound up enough to say something, and this is one of them. Stopped the car briefly (there was nobody behind me before people get on their high horse), wound the window down and told him to put his fucking phone down before he kills someone. He looked sheepish, but I doubt it'll stop him doing it tomorrow.
Ok-Kitchen2768@reddit
I can't even text or use my phone during a movie without pausing it unless I'm bored of it.
I can't drive but my god does it sound ridiculous to use a phone while doing so.
call092@reddit
I actually look forward to switching off for a bit when I'm driving, like I can relax and be on auto pilot. Checking my phone every 10 seconds is not relaxing.
Sometimes I see people come to a stop at a traffic light that's obviously about to turn green and reach for there phone like "OMG A OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK INSTAGRAM FOR 10 SECONDS, AWESOME!!" . I may be more understanding if it was some sort of emergency but I bet 99% of people messing with there phone is for pointless social media updates or a text that could wait until later.
I will never understand
CassieBeeJoy@reddit
The worst one that I've seen is a guy who had the phone in one of those cradles that you put on the windscreen which is fine if you're using it to navigate but he wasn't, he was literally watching a youtube video as he was driving. No one else in the car but him so wasn't to like distract kids or anything.
tillyybalderstone@reddit
The majority I see on their phones are men :)
Which_Yam_7750@reddit
Unfortunate fact of life, though nobody will admit it, or if they do it’s everyone else and not them - the vast majority of people are selfish. They live in their own little bubble and everything else just isn’t important enough to register. Same goes for just about any minor misdemeanour you name - e-bikes, jaywalking, tailgating, etc, etc, etc.
Matthew94@reddit
Howdy!
Rialagma@reddit
Excuse me sir, have you got a licence to cross the road?
sideone@reddit
/r/lostredditors
grafeisen203@reddit
It doesn't have anything to do with gender, men and women both do it way too much.
Everyone thinks they are the exception and they won't be one of the many, many, MANY accidents every year caused by distracted driving.
They aren't, and it's just a matter of time and dumb luck.
levinyl@reddit
Had a guy behind me yesterday in traffic, I couldn't understand why he was leaving such a huge gap behind me - Then he came closer and was literally transfixed on his phone, holding it up high and didn't even have a care in the world! People are idiots
Separate_Potato_8472@reddit
I like to pull up next to them and honk.9 out of 10 times they drop their phone. Problem solved.
RoyofBungay@reddit
It has been said that focusing on a a face to face conversation after a phone call/message can take up to 2 minutes as you are somewhere else and not present in the moment.
So doing this and driving a car makes one wonder.
whosafeard@reddit
I’ll have you know, during Covid, I got pretty good at attending Teams meeting and playing Cyberpunk at the same time
RoyofBungay@reddit
Well as corporate might say - we have only to be lucky once, you will have to be lucky always.
Scared-Room-9962@reddit
I think that was the IRA
RoyofBungay@reddit
Certainly was - you can push your luck by multi tasking WFH, but it only takes your line manager to catch you once and you are buggered.
11Kram@reddit
I see it all the time on the motorways. They are looking down at the phone on their lap, and wandering a little in the lane. The devices now present in many cars that keep the cars within their lane permits this behaviour.
AbsoluteCnt@reddit
I don’t get it. Even aside from the danger, it’s 6 points and £200 fine.
I’m in the van a lot and it’s literally every time they stop, the phone comes out. Those who actually speak instead of using Bluetooth are even worse.
e-pancake@reddit
people who do this should be hit with a stick repeatedly
heartthump@reddit
How could you say something so controversial. /s
Boldboy72@reddit
wait until you see how they treat the police when they get caught. "don't you have anything better to be doing?" "why aren't you fighting real crime"
Answer to the first one is "No, this is what I do for a livng"
Second one is "this is a crime"
Throw the fucking book at them and if they argue, throw another one.
StereotypicallBarbie@reddit
People are stupid! We are addicted to our phone screens.. a text/call can wait!
kayjay777@reddit
I don't know about people texting, but i bought a dashcam recently because the roads are just absolutely mental these days. The amount of people pulling out in front of you, tailgating and don't get me started on roundabouts.
theped26@reddit
I see it all the time and it’s 9 times out of 10 it’s people who are driving high end vehicles. All these cars are Bluetooth enabled so why they don’t take the 2 minutes to connect baffles me.
GlumChipmunk4821@reddit
They're watching videos, probably.
theped26@reddit
With a phone glued to their ear?
kimba-the-tabby-lion@reddit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4dl2quJTzA
I wish we had ads like this. I don't know if they help, but ....
Exact_Setting9562@reddit
If you have dashcam footage report them. Six points and £200 fine.
Own_Translator_8894@reddit
I don’t drive but full endorse this !! Points and banning is only way these idiots may learn - it’s so messed up
Background-End2272@reddit
I don't think this option is available in Scotland which is annoying.
pouchey2@reddit
It's crazy that some people still think it's ok... I also see it on a regular basis (usually someone who's slowed down, swerving a bit and then suddenly speeds up again).
I just don't understand what could possibly be so important that you need to respond whilst driving, without being important enough that you pull over somewhere.
another_online_idiot@reddit
I agree that there are still a large number of people who are on their phones. I see them on the motorway, driving through town - everywhere. I can't say I've noticed more or less men than women doing it.
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