Wednesday, 1 January 2025

$27,000 in fines?

There is a story going around at present that someone has managed to collect fines of $27,000 for using a mobile phone while driving. 

If the story is accurate then perhaps that person should be banned from driving for life? Why do they keep on doing it? Isn't the hit to the wallet enough to stop them? What conversation could possibly be so urgent that it cannot wait?

I would actually say this about most mobile phone conversations. Yes, those phones are "convenient". Yes, we can keep in touch with family, friends, work and more every day of the year. They supposedly help to keep people safe...perhaps.

It seems they also put people in danger. They put all of us in danger if someone is stupid and selfish enough to use the wretched thing while driving. 

I was out and about yesterday. I had a very pleasant hour with my cousin, his partner and Middle Cat. We sat outside a cafe under the shade and had various non-alcoholic beverages of our choice. As I pedalled home there was someone at the traffic lights. He was on his phone. He did not notice the lights had turned in his favour - something more than one person let him know. Rather than take the risk of crossing on the time left I waited for the next cycle in my favour.  It was irritating for me waiting at the pedestrian crossing but actually dangerous for the drivers around him. He actually went off still using his phone. The person standing next to me muttered, "Wish I could have got a photograph of that one. Where are the cops when you need them?"

Hopefully the idiot will get caught and fined before he causes and accident.

I am told it would be absolutely possible to make a phone which would not allow anyone to make or take a call when in a moving car. It might not stop idiots using their phones at lights but it might help. So, why don't they do it and enforce it? Are those conversations really that important? We managed without them in the past. Have things changed so much we can no longer be out of constant reach? It was a real relief when I overheard someone saying, "I am just going in to work to hand in my phone" and then, "No, the boss gets us to hand them in so nobody can contact us when we are on leave. I worked Christmas so I get real time off now."  I hope his boss does not contact him - but it sounds as if he might not unless there is a real emergency." Perhaps that is the way it should be all the time.

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