On 2 Aug 2010 21:05:01 GMT, Adrian wrote:

Jeff gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

Would you also say that using a mobile phone while driving ... should
be decriminalised?

I would certainly argue that there's no need for the separate legislation
which trivialises it.

If somebody is driving carelessly or dangerously, charge them with that -
whether the phone is the cause, the symptom or whatever.

The trouble with that is that it opens the door to defendants claiming
that it [using a telephone] was not unsafe in their individual case
and requires case law of the necessary nature to disprove every such
claim. The current law now addresses a specific improper action with
common undesirable consequences and takes away the argument. By
comparison you could consider various prosecutions under "the old
laws" which have taken place in recent times involving drivers eating;
I have yet to see any reports making reference to an apparent lack of
control in those cases unlike those involving using a telephone while
driving.

If their driving is safe and appropriate despite the phone,

It almost certainly isn't in the absence of a surrounding cordon and a
limited vehicle speed.

what's the
problem?

People being killed ?

Likewise with a speed above the limit.

People being killed ?

Exceeding the speed limit and using a phone whilst driving are minor and
trivial administrative offences

Great Heck ?
Harriet Harman ?

which merely distract from the actual
problem - drivers who don't pay any bloody attention to what's going on
around them.