In an attempt to drive home the message that driving while using a mobile phone is dangerous the guidelines are to be changed:
People who use mobile phones, sat-navs or MP3 players while driving could face up to two years in prison, under new guidelines being published today by prosecutors.
Here we go… Causing death by dangerous driving has been around for some while and an incident investigation has always posed the possibility of using ancillary equipment as a contributing factor, so really, there is nothing new here. If a driver causes death by dangerous driving, then death by dangerous driving, it is.
Using a mobile phone, sat-nav or an MP3 player while at the wheel will be treated as dangerous driving instead of careless driving, with the chance of up to two years in prison.
Using a mobile phone; yes, I accept that. It is why I never use a phone while driving, not even a hands-free. If people want to talk to me, they will have to wait.
We still see terrible crashes where people have been texting, driving into the back of stationary queues because they haven’t seen them.
Well, yes, people who do this deserve all they get. If they do this, then they are driving dangerously and there is a specific offence to cover it.
I also accept that using an MP3 player could be a distraction if the driver is using headphones and the outside traffic noise is significantly diminished as a consequence. However, simply listening to music is not a major distraction. If it was, we would be careering off the roads every time we switched on the radio or CD player. If the driver is adjusting the equipment on the move and is, therefore, not watching the road, well, that’s another matter.
Now… using a sat-nav… These things are designed to be used on the move. I use one on a daily basis on the bike. I would have some difficulty finding some of the more obscure locations I have to attend without it. Ever tried map reading on a bike? Which is more distracting; looking down at a set of directions taped to the tank or listening to voice prompts in the headset? When navigating in a car, which is more distracting; glancing at a screen next to the speedometer or leaning across to the open map on the passenger seat? Pulling over in busy traffic is not always an option, particularly when trying to work out which lane you should be in on a multi-lane junction. The sat-nav is much like any other instrument provided for the driver; tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge and so on. All are intended to be glanced at while on the move. Or is glancing at the speedometer a distraction and can we ignore these in an attempt to avoid prosecution for dangerous driving?
Update: I see that the Telegraph carries the same story and specifically mentions “adjusting” the sat-nav. That puts a slightly different spin on the story. That said, mine has a safety cut out. That is; you can’t make adjustments while on the move. Mine’s a Garmin. Do others have the same feature?