Using Mobile whilst driving

I note that yesterday the driver of the HGV that caused a crash whilst using his mobile, killing an entire family, got 10 years in jail.  Well deserved.

However there is one aspect of that report that does concern me a little.  He was reported to be scrolling down a music play list whilst listening to music on his radio in the cab. The music presumeably coming via his mobile device.

I have noticed that many new cars today don't have the normal radio/disc player that we grew up with, but instead now have a digital receiver/player instead, and also receive their signal from the owners mobile device.

So does that mean that that situation that killed the unfortunate family will become more common not less?

I do apologise if Ive got the wrong end of the stick about these new "radios" fitted in new cars but I am concerned!

My son has just taken delivery of a new Toyota, - and it hasn't got a conventional radio in it. It requires connecting via blue tooth to a phone!  Its far too advanced for me!

TF

We would have crossed it off our list as our phones are PAYG and to download would cost us a fortune.  Anyway prefer to listen to Radio 2 most times when driving,

TF, many new cars still have a normal radio and CD player fitted but they are accessed via the software and not in the conventional way.

The Bluetooth option is just another way of accessing stored music, as is a CD or tape, and often allows the radio part to be used as a hands free phone when linked to a smart phone but is not normally essential for radio use.

Like a lot of things these days, manufacturers assume everyone is able to understand and use computers etc. Personally I love the techie equipment but others say it is fitted because they can rather than because it is an improvement.

Yes what a tragedy indeed - and to take his eyes off the road for 45 seconds....... (I counted yesterday and I was through the village in 45 seconds doing 30mph).

I am afraid people seem to like their own music these days - which may be part of the trouble - and yes I think there could easily be an increase in such ghastly accidents although I do think people have always taken their eyes off the road for some reason or another.   

"although I do think people have always taken their eyes off the road for some reason or another."

Precisely why we don't wave to MHs, Pippah. There are already enough distractions without creating more. 

My car has Bluetooth connectivity which is good for receiving calls since the button to allow the call is on the steering wheel. However to make a call you have to scroll through all the contacts in your phone, that's something that is very distracting IMHO and therefore which I'll never do.

My car has Bluetooth connectivity which is good for receiving calls since the button to allow the call is on the steering wheel. However to make a call you have to scroll through all the contacts in your phone, that's something that is very distracting IMHO and therefore which I'll never do.

Mine is similar with the button on the steering wheel but it's voice activated. I only need push the button and say clearly "call home" (for example) and it does exactly that. 

My car has Bluetooth connectivity which is good for receiving calls since the button to allow the call is on the steering wheel. However to make a call you have to scroll through all the contacts in your phone, that's something that is very distracting IMHO and therefore which I'll never do.

Mine is similar with the button on the steering wheel but it's voice activated. I only need push the button and say clearly "call home" and it does exactly that. 

Same in my car. I use it quite often.

Both our cars have Bluetooth connectivity. Haven't a clue how it works! In one it's never been connected and in the other it was connected to my phone by the dealer when I went to collect it but turned off since then by me, as is my phone when driving. I'm afraid no call is important enough to me not to be able to wait till the end of my journey ( but then I'm not working!) 

I cannot see the reason for using a mobile whist driving for which you only get 3 points on your licence going up to 6.

By the sentence this driver recieved for dangerous driving says it all and instead of reporting for using a mobile each person using whilst driving should be prosecuted for dangerous driving and dealt with accordingly. It would soon cut out the mass use as it is now.

I recall watching a 'Police, Camera, Action' years ago, with a clip from a patrol car following another car, that for no apparent reason, crashed into the back of a stationary car!

The young lady, a nurse on the way to work, was changing a tape in the cassette player!

....The technology may have changed, but the availability of distractions to draw you away from paying attention to the road have not!

I see, without fail, 2 or 3 drivers every day on phones and others eating, drinking, applying make-up, deep in 'expressive' conversation and have even been sat behind someone at a T-junction watching pornography (dont know what else they were doing).

We are all (including myself) often all too complacent about the risks we take when driving, because the roads are so staticstically safe for us and because due to the cuts in funding and actual police patrols, patrolling, how unlikely we are to get caught!