“I was just playing on my phone�: driver’s excuse when cyclist asked why he’d stopped

On 08/06/2020 21:13, Kelly wrote:
JNugent wrote:

On 05/06/2020 17:45, Simon Mason wrote:

Terrible "excuse".
QUOTE:
It would be highly amusing if it wasn't so dangerous, as the driver of this trailer-towing Ford Ranger seems to think playing on your phone is a reasonable excuse for crawling along a country lane, before coming to a stop and then moving off again.

According to the cyclist who shot the footage it happened near Kittochside in East Kilbride, where she was faced with the vehicle moving very slowly on the country lane. It then comes to a stop and the cyclist thinks he is letting her overtake, but then the vehicle starts to move. She said to the driver “I thought you were letting me past�, to which he cheerfully replied: “No, I was just playing on my phone."

The cyclist claims he then proudly showed off his mobile to advertise the fact. After hearing the driver’s explanation, the cyclist can be heard saying: “Absolute cracker". Not the sharpest tool in the box and one that hopefully can be prosecuted with a number plate clearly visible...

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling...ne-2020-274121

Was there a double-yellow line at the side of the carriageway?

But he was undoubtedly acting unlawfully, double yellow or not.

How can it be unlawful to stop where stopping and waiting are not
prohibited?

A double-yellow doesn't even *mean* "no stopping".

Only two likely explanations, on this newsgroup, I would say:

1. 'He's not qualified as a driver, so, strictly speaking, he's a
cyclist'.

2. 'He is clearly short of shilling'. If only we knew how many
tattoos he has, and we had a psycologist well versed in the subject of
tattoos handy. (I know someone who stands in for such a 'tattoo
expert' - although it would probably require for the driver to
definitely be a cyclist for this 'expert' to be absolutely sure).

Anyway, I hope the cyclist (the one riding a bicycle) didn't complain
and hand that video clip into the police. The driver wasn't so much
dangerous (dawdling at that speed, when he wasn't actually stopped) as
simply dopey. We shouldn't all descend to the lowest denominator -
primed and ready to make like life even more difficult for one
another at the slightest provocation. All it takes is a little more
patience plus a bit of give and take, and all us road users could get
on a whole lot better.

On 08/06/2020 21:46, TMS320 wrote:
On 08/06/2020 21:13, Kelly wrote:
On 05/06/2020 17:45, Simon Mason wrote:

Terrible "excuse". QUOTE: It would be highly amusing if it
wasn't so dangerous, as the driver of this trailer-towing Ford
Ranger seems to think playing on your phone is a reasonable
excuse for crawling along a country lane, before coming to a stop
and then moving off again.

According to the cyclist who shot the footage it happened near
Kittochside in East Kilbride, where she was faced with the vehicle
moving very slowly on the country lane. It then comes to a stop and
the cyclist thinks he is letting her overtake, but then the vehicle
starts to move. She said to the driver “I thought you were
letting me past�, to which he cheerfully replied: “No, I was
just playing on my phone."

The cyclist claims he then proudly showed off his mobile to
advertise the fact. After hearing the driver’s explanation,
the cyclist can be heard saying: “Absolute cracker". Not the
sharpest tool in the box and one that hopefully can be
prosecuted with a number plate clearly visible...

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling...ne-2020-274121





But he was undoubtedly acting unlawfully, double yellow or not.

With the engine running the driver was still in nominal control of the
car. So yes, technically an offence.

The positive is that a country lane is obviously too difficult for a
driver to focus concentration elsewhere without slowing down below bike
speed. So it's a much safer place than a featureless main road.


shrug

Whatever was meant to mean.

On 09/06/2020 00:11, JNugent wrote:
On 08/06/2020 20:20, TMS320 wrote:
On 08/06/2020 17:32, JNugent wrote:
On 05/06/2020 17:45, Simon Mason wrote:

Terrible "excuse".
QUOTE:
It would be highly amusing if it wasn't so dangerous, as the driver
of this trailer-towing Ford Ranger seems to think playing on your
phone is a reasonable excuse for crawling along a country lane,
before coming to a stop and then moving off again.

According to the cyclist who shot the footage it happened near
Kittochside in East Kilbride, where she was faced with the vehicle
moving very slowly on the country lane. It then comes to a stop and
the cyclist thinks he is letting her overtake, but then the vehicle
starts to move. She said to the driver “I thought you were letting
me past�, to which he cheerfully replied: “No, I was just playing on
my phone."

The cyclist claims he then proudly showed off his mobile to
advertise the fact. After hearing the driver’s explanation, the
cyclist can be heard saying: “Absolute cracker". Not the sharpest
tool in the box and one that hopefully can be prosecuted with a
number plate clearly visible...

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling...ne-2020-274121

Was there a double-yellow line at the side of the carriageway?

For all your talk about laws, what an utterly pathetic response.

Was the driver perrmitted to stop, or prohibited from stopping?

That seems an important question, wouldn't you say?

No.

JNugent wrote:

On 08/06/2020 21:13, Kelly wrote:
JNugent wrote:

On 05/06/2020 17:45, Simon Mason wrote:

Terrible "excuse".
QUOTE:
It would be highly amusing if it wasn't so dangerous, as the driver of this trailer-towing Ford Ranger seems to think playing on your phone is a reasonable excuse for crawling along a country lane, before coming to a stop and then moving off again.

According to the cyclist who shot the footage it happened near Kittochside in East Kilbride, where she was faced with the vehicle moving very slowly on the country lane. It then comes to a stop and the cyclist thinks he is letting her overtake, but then the vehicle starts to move. She said to the driver "I thought you were letting me past"�, to which he cheerfully replied: "No, I was just playing on my phone!"

The cyclist claims he then proudly showed off his mobile to advertise the fact. After hearing the driver's explanation, the cyclist can be heard saying: "Absolute cracker". Not the sharpest tool in the box and one that hopefully can be prosecuted with a number plate clearly visible...

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling...ne-2020-274121

Was there a double-yellow line at the side of the carriageway?

But he was undoubtedly acting unlawfully, double yellow or not.

How can it be unlawful to stop where stopping and waiting are not
prohibited?

A double-yellow doesn't even *mean* "no stopping".

But that is is not what this incident is about, is it? Here we have
evidence (all on video) of a driver in control of a vehicle which is
moving slowly before stopping in the middle of a single track country
lane. A cyclist comes up behind the vehicle, waits for a little while
and then starts to creep past it, only for the vehicle to start moving
again before stopping again. She (the cyclist) eventually gets within
speaking distance of the vehicle's driver and says to him, "Sorry, I
thought you were letting me past."
To which the driver replies, "No, I'm playing with my phone!" as he
proudly shows her his phone.

The unlawful act is not the driver's stopping and waiting, it's the
use of his hand-held device while driving. He must still be driving
because the vehicle is moving, albeit it intermittently, all this is
cleary shown in the video - anyway, even if it had been stationary,
who safely parks a vehicle dead in the middle of a single track
country lane?

QUOTE:

When can you use a phone in your vehicle? The law is clear on when
you can use a hand-held device behind the wheel. It is only legal if
you are safely parked - and this does not include waiting in traffic
or stationary at the traffic lights. [...]

Can I use my phone while driving if I'm not moving? Contrary to what
many drivers seem to think, the law still applies when your vehicle is
stopped at lights or in heavy traffic. If your engine is running,
your phone should be nowhere near your hands. This is still the case
if the engine stops automatically to save fuel (called 'start-stop
technology’). [...]

What are the penalties for using your phone while driving? ... Today,
it is a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200, and six penalty points on your
licence.

UNQUOTE

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/l...le-phone-laws/

On 09/06/2020 08:44, TMS320 wrote:
On 09/06/2020 00:11, JNugent wrote:
On 08/06/2020 20:20, TMS320 wrote:
On 08/06/2020 17:32, JNugent wrote:
On 05/06/2020 17:45, Simon Mason wrote:

Terrible "excuse".
QUOTE:
It would be highly amusing if it wasn't so dangerous, as the driver
of this trailer-towing Ford Ranger seems to think playing on your
phone is a reasonable excuse for crawling along a country lane,
before coming to a stop and then moving off again.

According to the cyclist who shot the footage it happened near
Kittochside in East Kilbride, where she was faced with the vehicle
moving very slowly on the country lane. It then comes to a stop and
the cyclist thinks he is letting her overtake, but then the vehicle
starts to move. She said to the driver “I thought you were letting
me past�, to which he cheerfully replied: “No, I was just playing
on my phone."

The cyclist claims he then proudly showed off his mobile to
advertise the fact. After hearing the driver’s explanation, the
cyclist can be heard saying: “Absolute cracker". Not the sharpest
tool in the box and one that hopefully can be prosecuted with a
number plate clearly visible...

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling...ne-2020-274121

Was there a double-yellow line at the side of the carriageway?

For all your talk about laws, what an utterly pathetic response.

Was the driver perrmitted to stop, or prohibited from stopping?
That seems an important question, wouldn't you say?

No.

Really?

If he was permitted to stop (and we all know you're not allowed to drive
whilst using a "mobile device"), and if he stopped whilst doing so, what
is the point of the criticism?

On 09/06/2020 09:11, Kelly wrote:

JNugent wrote:
On 08/06/2020 21:13, Kelly wrote:
JNugent wrote:
On 05/06/2020 17:45, Simon Mason wrote:

Terrible "excuse".
QUOTE:
It would be highly amusing if it wasn't so dangerous, as the driver of this trailer-towing Ford Ranger seems to think playing on your phone is a reasonable excuse for crawling along a country lane, before coming to a stop and then moving off again.

According to the cyclist who shot the footage it happened near Kittochside in East Kilbride, where she was faced with the vehicle moving very slowly on the country lane. It then comes to a stop and the cyclist thinks he is letting her overtake, but then the vehicle starts to move. She said to the driver "I thought you were letting me past"�, to which he cheerfully replied: "No, I was just playing on my phone!"

The cyclist claims he then proudly showed off his mobile to advertise the fact. After hearing the driver's explanation, the cyclist can be heard saying: "Absolute cracker". Not the sharpest tool in the box and one that hopefully can be prosecuted with a number plate clearly visible...

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling...ne-2020-274121

Was there a double-yellow line at the side of the carriageway?

But he was undoubtedly acting unlawfully, double yellow or not.

How can it be unlawful to stop where stopping and waiting are not
prohibited?

A double-yellow doesn't even *mean* "no stopping".

But that is is not what this incident is about, is it? Here we have
evidence (all on video) of a driver in control of a vehicle which is
moving slowly before stopping in the middle of a single track country
lane. A cyclist comes up behind the vehicle, waits for a little while
and then starts to creep past it, only for the vehicle to start moving
again before stopping again. She (the cyclist) eventually gets within
speaking distance of the vehicle's driver and says to him, "Sorry, I
thought you were letting me past."
To which the driver replies, "No, I'm playing with my phone!" as he
proudly shows her his phone.

The unlawful act is not the driver's stopping and waiting, it's the
use of his hand-held device while driving. He must still be driving
because the vehicle is moving, albeit it intermittently, all this is
cleary shown in the video - anyway, even if it had been stationary,
who safely parks a vehicle dead in the middle of a single track
country lane?

QUOTE:

When can you use a phone in your vehicle? The law is clear on when
you can use a hand-held device behind the wheel. It is only legal if
you are safely parked - and this does not include waiting in traffic
or stationary at the traffic lights. [...]

Can I use my phone while driving if I'm not moving? Contrary to what
many drivers seem to think, the law still applies when your vehicle is
stopped at lights or in heavy traffic. If your engine is running,
your phone should be nowhere near your hands. This is still the case
if the engine stops automatically to save fuel (called 'start-stop
technology’). [...]

What are the penalties for using your phone while driving? ... Today,
it is a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200, and six penalty points on your
licence.

UNQUOTE

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/l...le-phone-laws/

I am dead against the use of handheld phones whilst driving, but does
picking up and showing an item to someone count as "using" it and if so,
has that principle been tested in court?

Asking for a friend.

PS: If the road is a genuinely single-track road, it really doesn't
matter whether a stationary vehicle is up against the left verge, in the
middle or up against the right verge, does it?

JNugent wrote:

On 09/06/2020 09:11, Kelly wrote:

JNugent wrote:
On 08/06/2020 21:13, Kelly wrote:
JNugent wrote:
On 05/06/2020 17:45, Simon Mason wrote:

Terrible "excuse".
QUOTE:
It would be highly amusing if it wasn't so dangerous, as the driver of this trailer-towing Ford Ranger seems to think playing on your phone is a reasonable excuse for crawling along a country lane, before coming to a stop and then moving off again.

According to the cyclist who shot the footage it happened near Kittochside in East Kilbride, where she was faced with the vehicle moving very slowly on the country lane. It then comes to a stop and the cyclist thinks he is letting her overtake, but then the vehicle starts to move. She said to the driver "I thought you were letting me past"�, to which he cheerfully replied: "No, I was just playing on my phone!"

The cyclist claims he then proudly showed off his mobile to advertise the fact. After hearing the driver's explanation, the cyclist can be heard saying: "Absolute cracker". Not the sharpest tool in the box and one that hopefully can be prosecuted with a number plate clearly visible...

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling...ne-2020-274121

Was there a double-yellow line at the side of the carriageway?

But he was undoubtedly acting unlawfully, double yellow or not.

How can it be unlawful to stop where stopping and waiting are not
prohibited?

A double-yellow doesn't even *mean* "no stopping".

But that is is not what this incident is about, is it? Here we have
evidence (all on video) of a driver in control of a vehicle which is
moving slowly before stopping in the middle of a single track country
lane. A cyclist comes up behind the vehicle, waits for a little while
and then starts to creep past it, only for the vehicle to start moving
again before stopping again. She (the cyclist) eventually gets within
speaking distance of the vehicle's driver and says to him, "Sorry, I
thought you were letting me past."
To which the driver replies, "No, I'm playing with my phone!" as he
proudly shows her his phone.

The unlawful act is not the driver's stopping and waiting, it's the
use of his hand-held device while driving. He must still be driving
because the vehicle is moving, albeit it intermittently, all this is
cleary shown in the video - anyway, even if it had been stationary,
who safely parks a vehicle dead in the middle of a single track
country lane?

QUOTE:

When can you use a phone in your vehicle? The law is clear on when
you can use a hand-held device behind the wheel. It is only legal if
you are safely parked - and this does not include waiting in traffic
or stationary at the traffic lights. [...]

Can I use my phone while driving if I'm not moving? Contrary to what
many drivers seem to think, the law still applies when your vehicle is
stopped at lights or in heavy traffic. If your engine is running,
your phone should be nowhere near your hands. This is still the case
if the engine stops automatically to save fuel (called 'start-stop
technology’). [...]

What are the penalties for using your phone while driving? ... Today,
it is a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200, and six penalty points on your
licence.

UNQUOTE

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/l...le-phone-laws/

I am dead against the use of handheld phones whilst driving, but does
picking up and showing an item to someone count as "using" it and if so,
has that principle been tested in court?

Asking for a friend.

Maybe you could tell your friend that I don't know if that
principle has been tested in court, but I wouldn't like to be the one
to test it. And, until some brave soul does, I'll be content to go
along with the RAC's advice which is: " If your engine is running,
your phone should be nowhere near your hands."

PS: If the road is a genuinely single-track road, it really doesn't
matter whether a stationary vehicle is up against the left verge, in the
middle or up against the right verge, does it?

No, you are right, it doesn't - it will still be causing a total
obstruction wherever. Doesn't it follow, though, that you can't
possibly safely park your vehicle in such circumstances. Best, I
would have thought, would be to wait for somewhere you can pull over
and into before safely parking your vehicle there. Then, switch off
the engine and play with your handheld phone to your heart's desire.

On Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 9:11:10 AM UTC+1, Kelly wrote:

Can I use my phone while driving if I'm not moving? Contrary to what
many drivers seem to think, the law still applies when your vehicle is
stopped at lights or in heavy traffic. If your engine is running,
your phone should be nowhere near your hands.

Plus you should not be "playing with you phone" while driving as this idiot even admitted to doing. Hopefully, the police will investigate the offence.

On Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 9:11:10 AM UTC+1, Kelly wrote:

Can I use my phone while driving if I'm not moving? Contrary to what
many drivers seem to think, the law still applies when your vehicle is
stopped at lights or in heavy traffic. If your engine is running,
your phone should be nowhere near your hands. T

Plus you should not be "playing with your phone" while driving, as this idiot even admitted to doing. Hopefully, the police will investigate the offence.

Simon Mason wrote:

On Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at 9:11:10 AM UTC+1, Kelly wrote:

Can I use my phone while driving if I'm not moving? Contrary to what
many drivers seem to think, the law still applies when your vehicle is
stopped at lights or in heavy traffic. If your engine is running,
your phone should be nowhere near your hands. T

Plus you should not be "playing with your phone" while driving, as this idiot even admitted to doing. Hopefully, the police will investigate the offence.

I think he at risk of being fully penalised if the police do
investigate. But I don't think he properly understands what the
relevant law is, he didn't even try to hide the fact he was using his
phone, on the contrary, he actually freely showed that he was. Also,
I don't think it was particularly dangerous in those circumstance but
we all know what the letter of the law is like.

Still, all things being equal, if a lenient view was taken there would
be the option of him getting away with a telling off and/or possibly a
driver's awareness course type of thing, but who knows?