What is the difference

[Tassie f100]

Just watching some cop show and got wondering.Why is it alright for Cops and Truck drivers to unhook and press the button and talk on their two way radios but I'm not allowed to pick up and talk on my phone.Surely its just as dangerous to use a radio as it is to use a mobile phone!

[Brazen]

Probably they are similar, buts it's a numbers game - banning mobile phones will prevent 10 million car drivers do it. Banning truck drivers and police will stop maybe 100,000 (guessing) and probably isn't worth the cost to the economy.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Just watching some cop show and got wondering.Why is it alright for Cops and Truck drivers to unhook and press the button and talk on their two way radios but I'm not allowed to pick up and talk on my phone.Surely its just as dangerous to use a radio as it is to use a mobile phone!

Mr Plod and Truckies don't often have deep and meaningful conversations that require a lot of thought.

Oh, and Mr Plod can legally use his mobile whilst driving.

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Probably they are similar, buts it's a numbers game - banning mobile phones will prevent 10 million car drivers do it. Banning truck drivers and police will stop maybe 100,000 (guessing) and probably isn't worth the cost to the economy.

Also police and truck drivers are definitely good drivers. Both are (highly?) trained and have a lot of driving experience. The same can't be said for the average motorist, if an already bad driver is using a phone when it isn't safe to be doing so (cause let's admit it, some people are idiots), that's just an accident waiting to happen. I doubt cops and truck drivers would be using devices when it isn't safe to do so.

[FPV+fteT3]

Using a radio is not as complex and uses less brainpower than a phone as a radio can only either send or receive not do both so you are either talking or listening with a phone you can do both which takes more grey matter to accomplish allowing less grey matter to concentrate on driving. Its only a minor distinction but by law one is legal to do while driving and one will cost you $$ and demerit points.

[1970galaxie]

You forgot to mention taxi drivers continually playing with their screens on the dash.

[CoupeKing]

Coz it's usually work related...not Facebook or nagging partner SMS peak hour traffic related.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Just watching some cop show and got wondering.Why is it alright for Cops and Truck drivers to unhook and press the button and talk on their two way radios but I'm not allowed to pick up and talk on my phone.Surely its just as dangerous to use a radio as it is to use a mobile phone!

Its not rocket science, truck drivers and police drive for living , car drivers drive to get from point a to point b , end of story.

[Tassie f100]

I would think thats a pretty wide generalisation mik what about a professional courier driver or taxi driver or sales rep.They are no less profesional drivers than cowboy cops or truck steerers

[damo76]

Well has there been any deaths from truckies using there two-ways or police?
they don't hold it to there ear or have to take there eyes off the road.
I see drivers using there phones while driving all the time, some of them even slow right down while looking at there laps, thinking it is safer if they slow down... right.
There are a lot of crap car drivers on the road and as a motorbike rider I like to stay away from.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Mr Plod and Truckies don't often have deep and meaningful conversations that require a lot of thought.

Oh, and Mr Plod can legally use his mobile whilst driving.

And mr plod is not immune to ploughing into a set of cars stopped at a traffic light because he was distracted while driving. True story,

[P6LTD351]

I love it when people try to compare themselves to Police. If you want to use your mobile whilst driving, become a cop. Same as if you want a Politician's perks, become one. Easy. Police are authority. Respect them instead of questioning them. This bull about "well if they can do it, so should I" just doesn't cut it. You're not a cop. That's the difference.

[blackf6]

Two ways are also used as safety devices in trucks. Escorts call you up with the width of wide loads. You can warn other motorists of upcoming road hazards. It's not the same as having a conversation on a mobile phone. Where I work, we are allowed to use the 2 way to announce road conditions/hazards and liaise with emergency services. Not to have a social conversation. And yes we are being monitored by camera.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

Just watching some cop show and got wondering.Why is it alright for Cops and Truck drivers to unhook and press the button and talk on their two way radios but I'm not allowed to pick up and talk on my phone.Surely its just as dangerous to use a radio as it is to use a mobile phone!

what gets me is the cops get to go through red lights, drive above the speed limit and carry guns. why can't i do that? its just plain unfair

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

what gets me is the cops get to go through red lights, drive above the speed limit and carry guns. why can't i do that? its just plain unfair

You forgot to add the sarcasm smiley

[Tassie f100]

Actually my point was not about why Cops or Truckies can use phones whilst driving but rather why is it considered alright for anyone to use a two way radio but not a hand held phone

[lownloud]

Two way radio has one button and one function (talk). Generally you say what you want and put it down and continue driving.
Mobile phone has a bazillion different functions and requires much more of your attention to operate as well as your hand to hold it to carry on a conversation.
I've used both and with a two way radio I tended not to drive like a brain dead idiot. Phone was a completely different story..........

[Top_Ghia]

It's not. You're not allowed to use a two way radio either as far as I'm aware.

[rods falcon]

Is it because the two way is usually permanently mounted, not hand held and only requires one button to use - therefore similar to a hands free phone device?

[sexyxe]

http://www.keepyoureyesontheroad.org.au/pages/VIC-laws

Not the actual law, but a website with an abstract from the laws in Victoria. No to mobile phones unless they are secured and you use hands free (but if you're a P plater you can't even hands free!) and it specifically says a CB radio is not a mobile so the rules don't apply.

[Vesper Martini]

Historically The CB is a one button device on a curly cord. they are mounted within easy reach
so you can operate it without looking for it, not a lot different from flicking your indicators on. or the newer voice buttons cars have now.

Trucks are also a lot easier to drive these days, and the drivers more extensively trained than 'back in the day'

Saying that I wouldn't be surprised if they are required to be replaced by a hands free device in the near future

[mik]

Originally Posted by Tassie f100

I would think thats a pretty wide generalisation mik what about a professional courier driver or taxi driver or sales rep.They are no less profesional drivers than cowboy cops or truck steerers

so now we are cowboy truck steerers and cops , yes reps and couriers use two ways and i think the police generally cut them some slack.

[Tassie f100]

I didn' suggest all truckies were cowboys but you can't deny thee are some very ordinary truckies out there.As in all trades there are proffessionals and not so pro.Most truckies are truck drivers but there are a lot of steerers who get in the cab fire it up and off they go.Only recently I stopped at a cafe on the outskirts on Glen Innis where an unattended HWP car was idling over The Cowboy came out of the shop put his phone up to his ear and proceeded to slowly drive off.So what would you call him?

[Itsme]

I think the authorities deem the use of two way radios pose no potential risk of distraction to driver when using these compared to some one using a mobile phone in vehicle.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by mik

so now we are cowboy truck steerers and cops , yes reps and couriers use two ways and i think the police generally cut them some slack.

No law to stop any motorist fitting two way radio to vehicle & using them.

[castellan]

You know how stupid a lot of car drivers are, they represent the lowest common denominator, not to mention how many can't drive a manual and to be truthful should not be driving on the roads as there attention span is so crappy.

If you were a truck driver such totally hopeless people would never cut the grade in the first place.

People who love Political Correctness don't have the brain power to comprehend that pre-judging can be a good thing, as not all people are of the same ability's and it's they who idolise PC are they that live in a little dream world of their own utopia.
They can't see past themselves.

I am pre judging ever car on the road and if you could not do so, one would be a idiot.

I have had to sit in a car and listen to the driver complain about other people speeding on a 100KM/H road when my driver is only plodding around 60, 70 and 80 KM/H at most, complaining that the other drivers are mad and will crash and I have to pipe up and say it's only due to your incompetents that you are thinking that way.
Such people claim they are good safe drivers because they drive slow, that's total B/S.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Oh, and Mr Plod can legally use his mobile whilst driving.

This needs to change. Anyone that chimes in and says they get special training that allows them to use a mobile phone whilst driving without putting other road users in danger is seriously deluded.

However, if in the odd chance I'm wrong and such a training program exists and works, it needs to be introduced as part of the broader driver education process. The constant "connectivity" genie has been released, why not make it safer?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

This needs to change. Anyone that chimes in and says they get special training that allows them to use a mobile phone whilst driving without putting other road users in danger is seriously deluded.

However, if in the odd chance I'm wrong and such a training program exists and works, it needs to be introduced as part of the broader driver education process. The constant "connectivity" genie has been released, why not make it safer?

This why HP Plod's have Auto box's. So they can either drink their coffee or chat to the wife whilst driving

[blackf6]

Hmmm. Maybe not a good idea.