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Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job difficult
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Author:  StuartW [ Wed Aug 14, 2019 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job difficult

Barrow taxi driver criticises potential hands-free mobile ban

https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/17835484 ... obile-ban/

A TAXI driver has criticised potential plans to ban drivers using mobile phones on hands-free mode.

Bob Mullen, a taxi driver of 14 years and a representative of Furness Taxi Trade Association, said criminalising hands-free phone use would make his job ‘extremely difficult’.

His message came in response to a report published by the Commons Transport Select Committee which recommended that the penalties for driving while using a hand-held phone should be reviewed.

The report also suggested the use of hand-held devices gives the ‘misleading impression’ that hands-free use is safe despite it creating ‘the same risks of a collision’.

In 2017, there were 773 casualties on Britain’s roads - including 43 deaths and 135 serious injuries - in crashes where a driver using a mobile was a contributory factor.

However, Mr Mullen said hands-free mobile use was a ‘vital part’ of his job.

“It would make life pretty impossible for myself and other industries such as delivery drivers and the police,” Mr Mullen said.

“Hands-free is exactly the same as having a conversation with a passenger sat next to you.

“I can’t see the ban working as so many people rely on a mobile in the car.”

However, Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall, said he was ‘broadly supportive’ of the prospective plans.

“The evidence seems to be clear that any sort of distraction increases the number of accidents,” Mr McCall said.

“I do worry about how this would be policed as hands-free is used in so many different industries including police.

“I think there will have to be some exemptions for certain professions."

Author:  Sussex [ Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job diffi

Quote:
Bob Mullen, a taxi driver of 14 years and a representative of Furness Taxi Trade Association, said criminalising hands-free phone use would make his job ‘extremely difficult’.

Have to say I fully agree with him, it would cause me right aggro.

I don't get this hands free chat will distract you etc. That's like saying we should never speak to punters.

Author:  Chris the Fish [ Wed Aug 14, 2019 11:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job diffi

Dragged this out from the dim and distant past....

I quote me from some time ago...

Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just maybe I can clarify one little bit, re 2way radios.
I have two operators certificates which I need when I have my other hat on as a Charter Skipper (hence "the fish").
First is "Restricted Certificate of Competence in Radio Telephony - VHF only".
Second is "Maritime Radio Operator Certificate of Competance SHORT RANGE CERTIFICATE".
These certificates mean I had to do do the courses and the exams.
I'm not going into all the frequency debacle so you can breathe easy.
What stands out from the training is simplex and duplex transmissions.
Simplex is a two way radio.
Duplex is more like a phone (but you can get on some radios).
In simplex both radios use one frequency. When you press to talk (PTT) you can't hear.
In duplex when you PTT you can still hear as the radio is receiving on another frequency.
The exercise that stands out is when "simplexing" you can still do other things, steer the boat, change the revs or otherwise cover other things.
When "duplexing" it all goes to ratsXXt - the human brain can't do it.
The Instructor I had used a demo on a computer. All you had to do was steer the boat up harbour (up arrow = up revs, down arrow = cut revs, left and right arrows = steer.) Nothing fast like driving a car (or cab) just obey navigation marks, buoys etc. We (the class) had a play, easy easy, for kids we thought.
Then the same with simplex radio call going on (space bar for PTT) - still easy enough - no accidents.
Then a duplex radio call - disaster - all the class would have gone aground, hit other vessels or otherwise have had accidents.
Compared to a car this is all done at a very slow speed, there are variables like wind, tide etc, but no gear changes, braking, stopping and starting etc.
Bottom line, I will not use a phone when driving (even with bluetooth). I will and do, use a SIMPLEX two way radio. I would use a bluetooth system with a phone if it would convert the phone in use to a simplex device.
Hope this helps with why 2 Way Radios are allowed and Phones are not.

Author:  bloodnock [ Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job diffi

0 proven deaths Each year by using legal Hands Free mobile phones.
67 Deaths each year by using Hand held mobile phones


goes to show that banning something doesnt stop people doing it, but if they make hands free hands equipment illegal and thus redundant then drivers will save their money and go back to the cheaper hand held option as both their usage will be equally illegal, this will only add to the death tally not reduce it.

Author:  grandad [ Thu Aug 15, 2019 5:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job diffi

I looked through our policy to see what it said about mobile phone use. Couldn't find anything. So I have now written to the licensing team to ask what is acceptable. I skydiving was acceptable to answer, hands free and accept a booking whilst waiting at a rank and was it acceptable to answer hands free and accept a booking whilst driving with passengers on board? I am waiting for the reply. Situations here have been a driver accepting a booking an texting the details to himself using voice to text whilst driving with customers on board to a driver talking to a customer on one phone whilst ringing the office to check availability and book the job in on another phone at the same time, again with customers on board.

Author:  bloodnock [ Thu Aug 15, 2019 10:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job diffi

grandad wrote:
I looked through our policy to see what it said about mobile phone use. Couldn't find anything. So I have now written to the licensing team to ask what is acceptable. I skydiving was acceptable to answer, hands free and accept a booking whilst waiting at a rank and was it acceptable to answer hands free and accept a booking whilst driving with passengers on board? I am waiting for the reply. Situations here have been a driver accepting a booking an texting the details to himself using voice to text whilst driving with customers on board to a driver talking to a customer on one phone whilst ringing the office to check availability and book the job in on another phone at the same time, again with customers on board.


The police are allowed to do it, they relay live information during chases etc, so unless they are some sort of superior being then I cant see why they will be allowed to use a hands free system while driving at anything up 3 times normal speeds if we cant do so as we tootle along.

Personally I find it no more difficult to chat and process information hands free than blether with the wife on a shopping trip.

I read somewhere years ago that some of the safest driving people do is when they go into semi auto pilot mode, we've all experienced it, youve done a 10 mile journey but only really recall small parts of it yet youve got there perfectly safely, that's because your brain is a much more wonderful and capable thing than you realise.

I think banning hands free will make no difference, it'll just cause frustration and cause drivers to rely on more dangerous methods of taking or accepting bookings on the move such as reading a screen and typing or accepting back a reply on the move, now that really could be dangerous.

It is Groups like BRAKE that seem hell bent on making a fuss over something that's not really a danger, trouble is they have the governments ear. Where is their proof, every article I've seen or heard on this always bases their story on deaths caused by hand held phones, i've not heard of a single death due to using a hands free phone.

Author:  StuartW [ Fri Aug 16, 2019 5:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job diffi

HANDS-FREE BAN: 'It's all of my business’ says taxi boss

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/new ... taxi-boss/

Swindon’s taxi drivers have joined calls not to ban hands-free devices.

They spoke out after the Commons Transport Select Committee suggested that using a hands-free device while driving creates the same danger as using a normal handset, which has been banned since 2003.

A ban on hands-free devices could have a massive impact on the business, says Dave Mackie, owner of 121 Swindon Taxis.

“The ban would have a frightening effect on my business.

"We get our work through electronic devices,” he said.

“For bluetooth devices it could just be a touch of a button or we even have voice control.

“How is it any different to talking to someone sat next to you?

“100 per cent of my business is based around hands-free devices. Years ago, with a radio, it was a different story because you had to concentrate on it.

“But nowadays things can be voice-activated so there shouldn’t be an issue.

“If you can’t talk at the same time as driving then perhaps you shouldn’t be driving.

“I’m all for safety but it’s civil liberties gone mad.”

Dave, who has been driving taxi’s for 40 years, sees hands-free devices as the same as talking to a passenger.

He added: “With modern vehicles everything is voice activated. Of course it will depend on the individual driving the car but if you’re a taxi driver you should be able to do both.

“You still see people texting on their handheld as they’re driving and that’s completely unacceptable.

“Using your voice is no different to talking to a person, I really can’t see the difference.

“A ban is a ridiculous idea, how would police work?

“They use hands-free devices to report crimes and speak to control, you see it on the police shows on TV.

“If there’s a ban it would have to be for everyone, including them.”

Taxi companies often rely on hands-free devices to accept jobs and to work out the fares of each trip.

Dave continued: “The argument just doesn’t exist, texting and using a handheld is completely unacceptable, I can agree with that.”

An expert had told the committee that using a hands-free device caused the same amount of distraction as being at the legal limit for alcohol blood level in England and Wales.

The cross-party group have said that a public consultation on the proposal to ban the devices should be published by the end of the year.

Author:  grandad [ Fri Aug 16, 2019 6:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Barrow driver says mobile phone ban would make job diffi

grandad wrote:
I looked through our policy to see what it said about mobile phone use. Couldn't find anything. So I have now written to the licensing team to ask what is acceptable. I skydiving was acceptable to answer, hands free and accept a booking whilst waiting at a rank and was it acceptable to answer hands free and accept a booking whilst driving with passengers on board? I am waiting for the reply. Situations here have been a driver accepting a booking an texting the details to himself using voice to text whilst driving with customers on board to a driver talking to a customer on one phone whilst ringing the office to check availability and book the job in on another phone at the same time, again with customers on board.

Our Council have confirmed that a driver can use hands free at any time for any purpose.

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