I feel very next-level hipster because I’m not attached to my cellphone at all. I just don’t see a need for it personally – I still consider my cell to be “for emergencies” and for occasional use for my job. And I absolutely never use my cell while driving. I cannot stand it when I see other drivers just full on driving with one hand on their phone, either texting or talking. It’s so dangerous and so f–king unnecessary, my God. I’m happy that so many states and cities have passed laws and are cracking down on drivers using cellphones. And I’m glad that they got such a high-profile celebrity in the dragnet:
David Beckham has been disqualified from driving for six months for using his mobile phone while at the wheel. The ex-footballer, 43, was spotted by a member of the public using his phone while driving in Great Portland Street, on 21 November last year. He pleaded guilty.
He was also given six points on his licence. Beckham was originally to be dealt with using the new single justice procedure, an administrative process not open to the press or public.
Sky News goes on from there, talking about the legal issues involved in Beckham’s case, but the general information is that Beckham was using his cellphone while driving and now he’s got a six-months suspended license for it. But that’s just in Britain – he spends much of his time in Miami these days, where I imagine he has an American driver’s license, don’t you? So he’s probably still driving here in the States.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Good.
I wish they had this level of punishment in the states. My state is still “thinking about” fines for cell use while driving but the proposed fine is $100 and no effect on your record or insurance. Big deal.
In New York, it’s $200 plus a fee and 5 points on your license.
I cannot stand him.
Good. He probably thinks rules don’t apply to him.
Good! I’d heard his lawyers were getting him out of it.
Also he doesn’t spend most of his time in Miami, he’s only there for photo ops.
Good thing he is super wealthy and doesn’t have to drive himself! The rest of us would be Fkd!
Probably calling one of his mistresses
Sheesh. Does the guy not know about bluetooth or speaker?
Good.
My state is “hands free,” which is better than nothing but it can still be a total distraction IMO. Also, people think that means basically “don’t your hold your phone to your ear” and I see people all the time holding the phone in their hands at the steering wheel yelling into it on speaker phone. That’s not hands free doofus.
I’m in Australia, and in my state, the rules are very strict. You can use your mobile while driving ONLY if it’s in a cradle and connected to Bluetooth and/or voice activation. You are not allowed to touch it in any way, except to hand it to a passenger if necessary. You cannot even have it sitting in your lap. You are given 5 demerit points and a hefty fine if caught doing so. During long weekends/holidays such as Easter, double demerits are in force. Considering we get a maximum of between 4 and 13 points, from Learner to full licence over 3 years, you can see it wouldn’t take much to lose your licence, and tot up a huge bill of fines in the process. I was listening to a report only this morning about how, for the first time in about 40 years, our road toll (lives lost per year) is on the rise. Experts are putting it down, in large part, to our use of phones while driving, for obvious reasons. I just don’t understand how some people can be so selfish, irresponsible and reckless, and have no sympathy for those who get the book thrown at them for flouting these laws.
People who use their phones while driving make me so frustrated. I have seen so many drivers who I originally thought were DUI and you realize, nope, they were just using their phone when they almost broadsided the car. Madness.