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Sex! Sex! Sex! & More Sex!

By Anthony Ashard

Now that I have your attention...

I would like to make this heart-felt plea to everyone who drives any kind of vehicle...

PLEASE STOP USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE WHILE DRIVING!

Now that was a nice plea from me, however if you fail to observe and abide by the law that governs the use of mobile phones while driving, then why would you even consider listening to my plea?

I ask you to read the below information & statistics before using your phone behind the wheel again.

As from the 1st December 2003 it's been illegal to drive in the UK while using a mobile phone.

Legislation prior to this only lead to prosecution if the driver was found guilty of losing control of a vehicle as a result of using a mobile phone!

Quite simply the message was not getting across, and now that legislation has been changed, there is still a complete lack of respect for the law, evident by the fact that so many drivers are still blatantly using mobile phones behind the wheel.

Ok, so what exactly is the law now?

The law states that it is illegal to ride a motorbike or drive a car while you are using a hand held communication device. Hands free phones may be used, but they are ultimately a distraction and you are still open to a charge of careless driving should a police officer think you are driving poorly while using one. Source

TRUE RECENT STORY:
Only a couple of weeks ago, a woman killed her three year old child after rear-ending a bus while driving in excess of 40Mph in a 30Mph zone, and not noticing the big red bus because she was completely distracted on the phone arguing with her husband, resulting in her launching her child through the front windscreen killing the child instantly. Needless to say she failed to secure her child into a safety chair, turning the child into a 40Mph human missile.

This was just one story of why we must not use mobile phones while driving, but still thinking that won't happen to me is avoiding the fact that every time you do answer or make a call you risk an accident or worse. Besides being arrested if you're caught.

Now if you don't break the law normally, and consider yourself a law abiding citizen, why break the law when you pick up that phone?

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3 percent of drivers are talking on hand-held cell phones at any given time.

The NHTSA also explains that of the 54 percent of drivers who usually have a wireless phone in their vehicle, 73 percent reported using their phone while driving. That statistic is likely to be higher if more current research is conducted. Source

So what happens when you're convicted

If you're arrested and found guilty of driving whilst using a mobile device, you stand to get at least a fine, points on your licence and even a driving ban, that's the law side of things, but what about if you're involved in an accident that involves injuring and/or even killing someone as a result of a moments lapse in your concentration.

THINK

IS IT WORTH IT? Don't pick up that phone!

Contributor's Note

In 2008, 2,538 people were killed on the roads, down from 2,946 in 200,) and 26,029 people were seriously injured -down from 27,774 in 2007).

As a result the total number of road casualties was 230,884 - down from 247,780 in 2007. The figures mean that Britain has met its road safety targets set for 2010.

Let's not add to these statistics, drive safely please...

PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE

CTEK Solutions.co.uk
Friendly PC Support 'Jaws' Compatible
www.ctek-solutions.co.uk

OK I tweeted this just now. Let's see how many new followers I get on Twitter from the title. And how many new Qondio users result.

biblefreeorg Mar 4, 2010 11:12

As someone who has had more than her share of close calls because of other people talking or texting (even worse) on their cell, I completely agree. Not only is it dangerous, it isn't even NECESSARY! Great piece of intel. I'm tweeting it, too.

Karla Whitmore Mar 4, 2010 11:17

Outstanding is the right word for this article, from the loony grabber headline to the point of your essay. You chose the perfect example. I have only one other caution to add.

Do not get into the same vehicle with your spouse during a marital argument, let alone behind the wheel. Call off the fight or put off the trip or go alone. There's no law against it and no way to frame legislation against it, but if you care about your life and limb, it's not worth screaming about who didn't pay the bills or really love you or understand what you were talking about.

You can't pay attention to possibly losing your mate and to driving a vehicle at the same time. That is the time your mind needs to be on the road and all those people you don't know, pedestrians and bus drivers and people having their own marital arguments in other cars whom you'd have to dodge.

It's like not driving when drunk. I sometimes think it's more dangerous than drunk driving -- but it's not as easily defined in legal terms and we'd be in a nightmare tyranny if someone did try to legislate against it. So take care of yourself and drive sane.

As I'm the proud father of five I often have to play Dads taxi, if on the odd occasion I choose to have a glass of wine at home, I will refuse to get behind the wheel. it's proven that any amount of alcohol can affect your judgement while driving.

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!

Driving your car is not a good time to choose to multi-task. I completely agree Anthony. Outstanding intel.

James Emery Vigh Mar 4, 2010 13:11

I agree with you 100%. On my drive home this evening I witnessed some idiot driving around a roundabout with his mobile glued to his ear while trying to light a cigarette.

He hit the kerb on the roundabout, clipped a car overtaking him and drove off. What was more amazing was the police sitting in a car behind me did nothing.

It is illegal in Spain to use your mobile while driving but everybody does. I turn my phone off when I get in my car. If someone wants to contact me they can wait until I stop.

Whilst driving home tonight I encountered no less than 7 people deep in conversation while pretending to be in control of their cars, one young woman behind me for some while didn't get the hint even though i had a passenger in the back taking picture of her on the phone and me stopping in front of her until the phone came away from her ear, only to be returned as I pulled away. I cannot believe some people just give you chronic attitude when you tell them what they are doing is illegal. THEY JUST DO NOT CARE! SELFISH OR WHAT!

Excellent article. Use of cell phone while driving is now illegal in British Columbia, where I live. And I am glad it is.

June Campbell Mar 4, 2010 13:31

Excellent article! Clever title! That way a lot more people will probably read this cause its important.

Yes, SEX sells newspapers. if I called it 'Mobile phones kill' it gets far less responses and took two days to screen, this article was sxreened by all nine in around 37 minutes!

I'm amazed to learn that using a cell phone while driving has been illegal in the UK since 2003, Anthony. There are less then 20 States that have laws in the United States. Are we stupid or what? Senior citizens make up 1/3 of the population and maybe we need to become vigilanties against these irresponsible drivers.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful intel.
Best wishes.
Frederick

There are a few who decided to take the law into their own hands over here by snapping pictures of the offenders whilst on the phone in their cars, that is until the police arrested and charged them for using their phones to take pictures whilst driving. it seems an almost un-inforceable law that can backfire on people trying to do good too.

So are you saying sex, sex, sex & more sex while driving is OK just so long as it isn't cell phone sex?

The title of this article ensured a fast screening (less than 30 mins) and has received many views and responses. A cunning ploy that paid off!

I hate to drive and talk on the phone so I always try and pull off the road to talk on the phone.

Yesterday I did this and a police car came up behind me and the police officer asked me if I was lost. I told the officer that I pulled off to the side of the road to make some phone calls.

He said that he did not think that was a good idea and that I was in a No Parking Zone.

Using a mobile while driving is never the cheaper option, and stopping in a no parking zone was a matter of observancy on your part, ultimately there is a big difference between a no parking zone and a no stopping zone. I would contest the ticket. You weren't parked if you didn't leave your car to make the calls.

The unfortunate side effect of spilling said coffee would likely be even less concentration on the road, because just as he spilt it he received a reply to his text message!

lotuspetal Mar 5, 2010 17:16

Your cunning ploy was well worth it. It should be required reading for all drivers, everywhere.

Yes it's quite amazing how many people are willing to divert their attention to something that has the merest hint of SEX about it. curiosity definitely killed the cat! LOL

Andrew Goulding Aug 6, 2010 20:02

Good one Anthony! I give it five stars. It should form a part of the written driving test bit. The problem is the addicts, they just can't be separated from the small object of desire, so should be stopped from driving. But it's obvious the police don't treat it with the seriousness it deserves, perhaps they too need to be told to tighten up on drivers who talk.

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