Hands free debate

Words of wisdom from one so young!!!

I used to have a hands-free kit in my last 4x4, but have not bothered in this Chevvy jobbie.

One reason I read a few years ago (which seemed like garbage to me) was that when you hold a phone to one ear, your sub-conscious diverts your attention to that side of your body. That means that if you're driving with the phone to your left ear, that you will be less likely to notice a huge Kenworth bearing down upon your right side.

The theory goes, however, that when using a hand held microphone, it is being held directly in front of your face, so there is no such bias towards one side of your body or the other.

BOLLOCKS!!!! hahahaha

Williem,

"What is the difference between talking on a Hands Free phone and talking to your passengers in the vehicle? You get just as distracted!"

I think you'll find that the arguement is that a passenger is "in your environment" and expects you to listen only when it is appropriate. For example they'll stop if a truck has just cut you off at an intersection.

Whenever I see a car in front of me driviung erratically 9 times out of ten they're on the phone. Doesn't matter if it's hads free or not.

With UHF only one person speaks at a time with a a pause in between. Therefore it is not a fluent conversation and not as distracting.

My thoughts anyway.

Personally I don't think that there is any difference between talking on a hands free or talking to a passenger, because you still have both hands free to turn the wheel, change gears, (drinking your drink - just kidding).

However, when talking on a mobile without hands free, one hand is holding the phone and this is dangerous in my opinion because you don't have proper control of the steering wheel, especially when changing gears, as I have seen people take their hand off the steering wheel to change gear whilst driving and holding the phone in the other hand - its dangerous and stupid.

I also believe that there are some people out there who shouldn't be allowed to talk to anyone whilst they are driving regardless as to whether it is a passenger or on the phone as they get easily distracted.

Karl

It's not just talking on the phone that's the problem, it's also dialling, looking down to find the right button to press to answer and text messaging. None of those apply to using a radio.

GB

Switch to voice mail and turn the darn thing off when driving.
Mobiles when out for a meal
The other day 2 phone going off in public toilet
WHAT DUH!!!!!!!

Mythbusters did a test and confirmed using the moble is highly distracting especially so when it is a detailed convesation. Bu yea other things are surely as distracting.
I lose all fluency trying to talk to people in the car in traffic.
(lose all fuency at the pub as well though)

The circumstances which lead to a conversation are the basis for whether the driver will be compromised in vehicle control.

What I mean is, if a customer rings for in depth technical support because their network has just gone down, or if your passenger is your wife who has just told you she is bonking your best friend, you will become very dangerous on the road. You will be thinking only of your just inherited problem (solution?) and you will lose concentration on driving.

But if your wife rings to confirm if you will be home at a certain time, or if your passenger remarks that there is a flashing red light at the upcoming rail crossing, your danger quotient will not increase, and may decrease. Not all conversation requires sufficient concentration to distract from the driving task.

But if you have to turn the radio off, press buttons on the phone, lift phone to ear, or initiate calls while driving, or texting, there should be zero tolerance as it is an accident waiting to happen.

Bluetooth phone system which auto answers and mutes radio is OK, but if you are likely to receive calls which require heavy thought, use messagebank.

It is only a problem since technology became so cheap and all the idiots on the road can afford it .. I had a car phone 20 years ago and nobody bothered going 200km/h on the Autobahn and talking to your staff or secretary ... never had a problem with distraction or lack of concentration ...
it's like with everything .. the idiots are spoiling the party .. when I see some people driving and talking here (and I see a lot despite the fines) it frightens me what low skill levels these guys and gals have ... slowing down, crossing lines accidentally, not staying straight, braking accidentally and so on ..
It's not a world gone mad .. it's just the idiots becoming obvious and there is plenty of them .. 4WDs should have a 50.000$ tax on them then we might get some sense again in the bush by just reducing numbers ...

have fun
gmd

Many years ago I was watching the Bathurst 1000. During the telecast the comentary team would cut to the camera in the car and at times talk to the driver.

It was during one such cross that Peter Brock ran what turned out tom be his fastest laps of the race, including a lap record.

Driving on a race track is much different to driving on a normal road, but it still requires a great deal fo concentration. I know that when I am driving there are times when the activity of my kids in the car, or even conversations with other passengers can be very distracting. I have a hads free kit in the car, all I have to do to answer the phone is to open it, it's a flip. Sometimes, i find the conversation relaxing and can help me sometimes it is distracting. When it is distracting I terminate it as I would a conversation with someone in the car. Or if they ask a question I finish what I am doing, be that turning a corner or just keeping an eye on another motorist, before answering it. If the caller can't cope with that they usually hang up. I almost never instigate a call while driving.

Sometines the UHF is distracting too so I turn it off.

Duncs

Willem,
twice I have been in vehicles that went red lights. The drivers were both talking on mobiles. Mobiles seem like a time bomb waiting to go off.

Uhf's don't seem to cause the same problems, don't ask me why I haven't got a clue. I have to use 2 radios while driving which are on diferent channels, this can be annoying when you are talking on 1 and someone is calling on the other, at that time I just tell them to wait.

The Ape

Last I knew it was illegal to use UHF, CB, etc while driving as well as a phone, This is old information so might be out dated.
I believe taxi drivers had an exemption when they had to use the 2 way radio as they had to call up for jobs.

JohnR might remember when Mrs JohnR called on the UHF to say she was on her way home from town while the local copper who was helping re-roof the house was in near the UHF having a cuppa hearing the conversation.........

Thoughts?
NickR

If my phone rings while i am driving I let it go thru to 101 or some callers realise and SMS me.

I will pull over and check the messagebank when it is safe to do so.

People who know me realise that if i don't answer i must be driving or i am out of range.
I am of the opinion that NOBODY, including myself, is that important that they should endanger other lives to answer a damned phonecall.

No call is that important that it can't wait till you can safely pull over to check it...yes I said safely ...... I have seen idiots launch themselves off into the breakdown lane without proper indication to answer a call, this is nearly as dangerous as driving and talking on the phone...they have it half right.

When i see someone with a phone stuck on the side of their head i really want to change lanes on them or do something to show them how selfish and irresponsible they are being. I don't of course because it would be irresponsible of me to do so.

Now if we could just get the police to enforce the law...A month or so ago I sat waiting for my daughter to come out of school and out of about 70 or so cars I counted about 10 drivers chatting away merrily on their phone while they sailed on thru a school zone......some of these idiots had children of their own on board..

Willem
Being a truckie for many years it became like sort of part of the job to be using the Mike, changing gears, steering, and smoking a fag,( i did smoke once) . We needed 4 arms at time but never do you lose concentration , I don't know the reason why . I did find that before I got hands free It was not like talking on CB , one does tend to put all means of concentration to the phone and the body becomes like a zombie, We have all seen the P plater or city driver wandering about, stalling at lights, driving slower than usual and they don'r realise it, But the most idiotic thing I see when people yap on a mobile and when not driving is the way they wander all over the place , i mean they ....just walk...anywhere, in circles, pace up and down ...JUST LIKE BLOODY ZOMBIES, why can't they just stand still or sit down , got me buggered/

Doug

*was that when you hold a phone to one ear, your sub-conscious diverts your attention to that side of your body*

Dont wives have the same effect ???????

Perhaps I am a bit dyslexic or something but I find that talking to passengers is a big distraction. The subconscience takes over and I find myself going the wrong way. Good thing I have a passenger to tell me I am going the wrong way.

lol

Owen

Willem!!, I can't believe such a technical man as your self, ( re. puters etc.) is not wearing a:" Blue Tooth" ear piece!. Update ol fella, they are brilliant!. Except you look a bit like DR.Spock, and also some might think your barracking for the other side!, ......LOL

Cheers Axle.

Willem
Q1: What is the difference between talking on a Hands Free phone and talking to your passengers in the vehicle? You get just as distracted!
A1: A least you can hang up on the caller, harder to do that with the passenger's conversation ;-)

Q2: What is the difference between talking on a mobile phone and talking on a UHF or HF Radio? You get just as distracted!!
A2: The cost of the mobile call as to the free UHF/HF conversation.

PeteS