[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I don't get this logic though, why does it matter if the passenger is looking at the road or not, they're not driving?

Well they can too warn of anything appearing a phone cannot.
It's the same logic to me anyway as to people just walking.
I've seen innumerable times now, 2 people walking and talking, still alert at times of crossing roads.
Whereas on a phone talking, I've seen so many times, the person just step out in the road, not even looking.

In any road vehicle being driven, you need full concentration.
If you don't have that with a phone generally, I think hands free is as bad.
You may have 2 hands then on the wheel but the focus is still on concentrating on the call.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Well they can too warn of anything appearing a phone cannot.
It's the same logic to me anyway as to people just walking.
I've seen innumerable times now, 2 people walking and talking, still alert at times of crossing roads.
Whereas on a phone talking, I've seen so many times, the person just step out in the road, not even looking.

In any road vehicle being driven, you need full concentration.
If you don't have that with a phone generally, I think hands free is as bad.
You may have 2 hands then on the wheel but the focus is still on concentrating on the call.

You can't rely on a passenger to warn you of stuff on the road, that's ridiculous. Speaking on hands free is exactly the same as speaking to someone in the car, infact you could argue that speaking to someone who's physically in the car with you is more distracting as the temptation to look at them if they're describing something etc is there which it isn't if someone is on the phone

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

You can't rely on a passenger to warn you of stuff on the road, that's ridiculous. Speaking on hands free is exactly the same as speaking to someone in the car, infact you could argue that speaking to someone who's physically in the car with you is more distracting as the temptation to look at them if they're describing something etc is there which it isn't if someone is on the phone

Its not ridiculous at all.
I never also said anyone should rely on passengers to warn of anything anyway.
At least talking to another person, rather than a machine, means 2 sets of eyes available.

When I was a teen, many times on long journeys as a passenger.
I've also VOLUNTARILY, not being relied on, watched the road.
Looking for directions on signs etc.

A phone cannot and doesn't do that.

It's not a ridiculous thing at all as you state.
Far from it actually..
In my view.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Its not ridiculous at all.
I never also said anyone should rely on passengers to warn of anything anyway.
At least talking to another person, rather than a machine, means 2 sets of eyes available.

When I was a teen, many times on long journeys as a passenger.
I've also VOLUNTARILY, not being relied on, watched the road.
Looking for directions on signs etc.

A phone cannot and doesn't do that.

It's not a ridiculous thing at all as you state.
Far from it actually..
In my view.

So you're arguing that having an extra person watching the road is better than driving alone? Ok but that isn't the discussion, it's whether hands free is dangerous while driving, imo it's as dangerous as talking to a passenger while driving

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

So you're arguing that having an extra person watching the road is better than driving alone? Ok but that isn't the discussion, it's whether hands free is dangerous while driving, imo it's as dangerous as talking to a passenger while driving

No I'm not saying that at all.

Hey plenty on here said it should be banned.
Ask them why.
I didn't even say it should be banned.
I said I didn't see how it could be properly policed.

Anyone driving alone is fine.
Just not distracted by a mobile or hands free.

I would never, that's my view.
I would take stops to check the phone then deal with calls.
That's my take on this, it may not be yours but to me I consider that the safer thing to do.

[Cherie]

In all honesty and I don't know why but when a call comes in on hands free it does tend to distract me, even just hitting accept I think if you are changing music or something you wait until you are in slow traffic or stopped you wouldn't do it going 70 on the motorway at least I wouldn't, and if a call comes in and I am driving fast I tend to ignore it, if it comes in and I am slow moving or stopped its fine

[Cherie]

The only way you could police it is to take the tech out of cars, but then people would just answer their phones which is worse