Is Life In Prison Fair Punishment?

That's a tragic story and I'm sorry for you loss Tallpaul.

 

The punishment certainly didn't fit the crime there, sorry for the sad loss of your friend stollydriver.

 

Hands up all those who don’t break the law most times they go out on their bike?
Will have to keep mine down.
Regards,Ken.

 

I taught John to ride back in 1978 on an fs1-e he became bike mad and a really good rider. He took his zx10r ( brand new ) to work as he was going over to bike meet in Portugal. The road he was killed on in Bucks was one he was working on - so he knew it well, bloomin driver just shot out of junction and T boned him... missed by all who knew him

 

We can never account for the actions of others and it's so tragic when it has this kind of result, very sad story mate.

 

Yes OK, but it's the voices that make me do it

 

Thanks mate.

 

Hands free calls are more distracting partly because the person on the other end of the line can't see what's going on in front of the driver. Obviously a passenger can, and will consciously or unconsciously adjust the conversation or make allowances for potential hazards. The conversation may even stop if necessary, but this is not likely to happen when the caller has no idea what's going on. If the driver pauses, the caller probably wonders where they've gone and continues talking so the driver continues to be distracted.
So there is a big difference between having a conversation on a phone, even hands free, and a conversation with a passenger.

Most sane people take a dim view of drink-driving. Many of us can remember when it was accepted as ok to drink 3 or 4 pints (or whatever) at the pub and then get in the car. Some of us will have done that.
We need to reinforce the message that using a mobile while driving is wrong by saying so if we are in the car at the time. Let people know what you think and if that means tapping on someone's car window, if feasible, or politely signalling to them to put the phone down, then do it. There's no need to be rude or get angry, just a bit of gentle education can work.

 

3 or 4 pints......pah!!!!!

 

I agree @beerkat. I did answer a call on my hands-free a few months ago. My Ford connects to my phone so it can auto-call the emergency services if it thinks it's been in a crash.

I was surprised that, when I came up to a complex junction during the call (done it many times before), I was totally confused by the junction and couldn't figure out when to go. I asked the caller to hold on while I got out onto the main road. It was afterwards, when I thought about it, that I came to the conclusion you did - the caller kept talking, whereas a passenger would probably go quiet while I sorted out the junction. I don't answer calls while driving now.

I was in a very serious head-on collision when I was a teen (I was a passenger in the car). The guy who hit us was drunk and overtaking on a bend. I was, as a result, always anti drink driving after that. Before it became socially unacceptable, I had many arguments with folks who claimed to be better drivers when they'd had a few - "I'm more relaxed when I've had a few drinks", was their reasoning.

 

I just let the cell phone ring when driving.

When it comes to drinking, I quit driving at the end of 3 beers (1.9 imperial pints)

When it comes to riding I don't drink.

Cost of a DUI in the USA is about $25,000.00 once you figure in your insurance costs for the first offense. 6 month suspension of license.