(edit title) On your mobile or texting whilst driving in Sweden Dangerous or not? Options

[BritVik]

In the UK, a lorry driver has been sent to prison for texting whilst driving, which resulted in his lorry crashing into the rear of a car causing the death of a young female passenger. This is not the first time this has occurred, and the fatalities continue.

Here in Sweden, the powers that be - in their infinite wisdom - have said that it is not dangerous to use a mobile or to text whilst driving.

What is the opinion of Local readers on this subject?

For the record, my personal opinion is that - yes it is dangerous - bloody dangerous. With one hand holding the phone you are left with just one hand to steer, change gear, signal . .and people travel like that kilometre after kilometre. An accident looking for somewhere to happen. Am I in the minority with regard to the dangers here?

[agw9262]

I am with you on this one. I don't know about the statistics here in Sweden and the roads are certainly quieter than the UK but it makes me uneasy...maybe I am too pro-H&S :-)

[byke]

The law in Sweden says its fine, statistics and laws in other countries in Europe claim its worse than driving drunk.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

I do not have a clue as to why some people find it necessary to text or use a cell phone while driving.

People who do drive and do this should have extra and harsh penalties applied to them if they do harm to a person or damage property.

To me they are disregarding the safety of us all, and...in plain words they are stupid and thoughtless.

Depending on road conditions, etc. I don't even have the radio on...Hey I want to come home in one piece!

[Rick Methven]

The road authorities Transportstyrelsen sat that use of mobiles while driving IS dangerous and should be banned. It is the politicians who will not make it illegal, which is a strange stance for Sweden which is usually ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to road safety. It will most probably only be banned when some politician, or a member of his family, gets killed/maimed by a mobile using driver.Until that happens Sweden is as up to date as Albania

Personally, I think that using a mobile when driving should result in a 5 year ban. I have had so many near escapes especially at roundabouts from drivers, especially truckers, not looking and failing to give way. A friend of mine in Holland who is a HGV instructor, says that a trucker caught using a mobile while driving, not only faces a €2,000 fine but also the loss of his HGV licence (and therefore his livelihood)

[Grass]

Yes, many studies have show that holding a mobile phone while using it is actually worse than having a 0.08 blood /alcohol limit...
On the other hand, do not even dream about getting into your car if you have had a drink.

Sweden's Hippocratic views are shown again.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Agree with that post.

Nobody should be allowed to endanger others on the road, it's bad enough when just engaged in everyday commuting, etc..

Crucifixion anyone?

[axiom]

Using a mobile phone while driving is a totally wreckless thing to do.

Trying to write an SMS is almost criminally negligent and both should be banned, Sweden is kind of unique as one of the few countries that do not banned mobile use while driving but it seems like this is about to changed ...

[SimonDMontfort]

X9

...absolute tw@ts these people who drive along while carrying on a conversation on a hand held mobile - changing the law wouldn't in itself stop it, but at least such drivers would be 'prosecutable'

[Mpf]

I drive the motorways quite regularly and I notice that nearly every other driver is on their mobile. I agree it is dangerous as they tend to drive at a much slower speed on the motorway causing chaos behind them.

Additionally I travel the E18 northwards out of Stockholm every day. The E18 in that part of the country, for those who don't know the route, is alternate one lane, two lane, one lane divided in the middle by these steel rope barriers. Now I don't have any issues keeping away from these things as they rip your car apart if you hit them. Now I have been travelling this route daily for the last 12 months and the amount of cars I have seen who have taken the centre barrier out over a 30km stretch is frightning. I would put money on it that if a survey was conducted to establish what the drivers were doing moments before they impacted the barrier I would say it would be a safe bet that their mobile, iPod or another electronic device (not necessary for driving) was being used by the driver.

Bonkers

[CCVB]

I do not get this, Sweden is always going on about safety and then again, they allow phoning/texting whilst driving, makes no sense at all...its forbidden in most european countries nowadays and well, not only in Europe and a country where safety is really a biiiig deal allows it???? really freaking dumb!

[Shibumi]

Telecommunications companies (Ericsson, TeliaSonera...) make up about 20% of the Stockholm stock index... and it used to be much higher. Need we look further to understand why Swedish politicians are not focusing on this issue?

[Puffin]

So you are advocating that ALL types of mobile phone use in cars should be banned?

[Puffin]

I do not get this, Sweden is always going on about safety and then again, they allow phoning/texting whilst driving, makes no sense at all...its forbidden in most european cou ... (show full quote)

I do not get this, Sweden is always going on about safety and then again, they allow phoning/texting whilst driving, makes no sense at all...its forbidden in most european countries nowadays and well, not only in Europe and a country where safety is really a biiiig deal allows it???? really freaking dumb! ... (hide full quote)

The idea of going over to hands free was researched extensively in Sweden around 8-10 years ago - However the results were than hands free is no safer than holding a handset as it is the actual effects on concentration of taking the call that is dangerous so it makes no difference whether you hold the phone or have hands free

This is where the politicians balked and decided not to ban all mobile phone use - whereas other countries have gone the hands-free route even though it is not safer - but allows politicians to appear to be "doing" something

Reserach in the UK and US since 2007 has confirmed that hands free mobiles are also dangerous - research has found that people using a hands free mobile are 30% slower to react than people over the drink driving limit - but there is no political will to act so the politicians continue to pretend that hands free is somehow "safer"
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11...nk-driving.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-20...ous-mobile.html

[chima_arsenal]

Just like everyone here, it baffles me that it is not illegal. Common sense should suggest that texting while driving is absolutely dangerous. Sometimes, when i think of driving in sweden, i feel i need to drive an suv so that in the event of a texting idiot hitting me, i will be safe. If they think texting while driving is ok, they need to have a look at this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LCmStIw9E . Am sure many ppl have seen it and for those who havent, it is quite graphic.