Tag Archives: Mobile phone

Is your handlebar mount damaging your phone?

I recently found photos taken on my iPhone 11 were blurry because the autofocus wouldn’t lock on.

The phone was under warranty so I rang to have the camera fixed and was immediately asked whether I rode a bicycle or motorcycle.

When I said yes, they asked if I had a handlebar mount.

So obviously they are aware of an issue where having your phone or camera mounted to your handelbar can cause vibration issues that can damage the delicate workings of your device.

I’d be careful what you admit to as it could void your warranty.

Several handlebar mounting devices for cameras, GPS, phones, etc now come with vibration isolation attachments.

One of the most popular is the Aussie invention, Quad Lock, which offers a vibration mount for just $A24.95.Quad lock

It’s a small price to pay for the insurance of protecting your expensive device.

I have been mounting my phone to the handlebars using a Quad Lock with a wireless charger for several years without any issues … until now.

Having your phone charged while you are out on a ride is not only a convenience, but also a safety device.

If you get lost, crash or fall ill, having a fully charged phone means you can ring emergency and they can track you.

The Quad Lock is available for motorcycles, scooters, cars, bicycles and runners.

You can buy the mount (RAM, handlebar or mirror), the case to suit your iOS or Android phone, a waterproof covering if required, plus accessories such as the charging units and isolation mounts separately or as a pack to save money.

To mount your phone, hold it at a 45-degree angle until it slots into place, then twist it clockwise to a vertical or horizontal position where it remains securely in place.

To remove the phone, simply push the blue tab (or ring on the wireless charger mount) and rotate anti-clockwise.

That makes it useful if you are riding along and see something worthy of a photo – no fumbling in your jacket for your phone, just grab it and take the shot, then re-attach it. (Obviously, stop first!)

Although it is very secure, it does vibrate which makes it impossible to use the camera or video function on the move.

And as we’ve now found, that vibration can cause damage, especially if you ride on rough roads or off-road.

Quad Lock even lists a variety of motorcycles – mainly twin cylinder models – that can cause vibration issues.

Be aware that it may be illegal in your jurisdiction to even touch the phone while riding, although the laws are a bit vague, says the Australian Motorcycle Council.

If you want to access any of the touchscreen facilities, you would need to have special gloves with touch-sensitive finger pads.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Is phone message finally getting through?

Motorists are starting to get the message about illegally using a mobile phone, according to a new survey, as Queensland introduces tougher penalties from 1 February 2020.

A three-day Driver Distraction National Summit in Brisbane last July called for tougher penalties, but so far Queensland is the only state to respond, lifting the fine from $400 and three demerit points to $1000 and four points.

In November 2019, Victorian Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said the threat of losing $496 and four demerit points was not enough to stop motorists inches state.

In 2018, NSW increased penalties to $337 and five demerit points with (double demerit on public holidays). They are also trialling special cameras that can detect illegal phone use in vehicles.

Western Australian penalties are $400 and 3 points and ACT $447 and 4 points (both also have double demerit points)South Australia $308, plus $60 Victims of Crime levy, and 3 points; Tasmania $300 and 3 points; and Northern Territory $250 and 3 points.

Riders in danger

Vulnerable motorcycle and scooter riders have long called for tougher penalties for distracted drivers.

Selfies new scourge of road deaths

They also have a unique perspective to see inside vehicle cabins where they have witnessed drivers not only talking on their phones, but texting a message, updating their social media profiles and even taking selfies.

Yet Queensland Police video of motorists being caught red handed includes one of a scooter rider texting while waiting at the lights.

Message in survey

A new survey from Budget Direct finds checking your phone while stopped at a traffic light and changing song on playlist are the most common illegal phone uses by motorists.

In its survey of 1001 Australian motorists (including 218 Queenslanders) it found:

  • Australians surveyed in 2020 (11.49%) feel less confident texting while driving, compared to 2018 (14.9%) 
  • Respondents aged 35-44 feel most confident behind the wheel (22.61%) compared to those aged 18-24 (10.43%)
  • On average across the country, most believe that Tougher Penalties (31.97%) is the most effective way to deter drivers from texting
  • However, this figure was the lowest for Queenslanders who also think this is the least effective measure (compared to increased awareness, mobile detection cameras, law enforcement and no measures). 

Research shows using a mobile phone while driving can be as risky as drink driving. A driver’s response time while texting on a phone is comparable to that of a driver with a blood alcohol reading of between 0.07 and 0.10.

Queensland penalties

The increased Queensland penalties mean that some licence holders, like learners and P-Platers, could lose their licence from just one offence.

Double demerit points will still apply to all drivers for a second mobile phone offence within 12 months. This is another $1000 fine and eight points and could cost most people their licence.

Bicycle riders will also be fined $1000, but no demerit points will be issued.

While the penalties are increasing, there are no changes to the current rules for mobile phone use while driving.

Read more about the Queensland rules for mobile phone use while driving.Selfies new scourge of road deaths Have your say on regulating driver distraction

Various rules

Rules of use vary across state boundaries.

For example, in NSW, Victoria and South Australia the cradle must be commercially produced if you’re using a GPS app, making a call or playing music.

However in Victoria and South Australia, learner and P1 drivers can’t operate phones at all.

Learner and provisional drivers are also restricted from using phones at all while driving in the Northern Territory.

Fines around the worldVietnam - double mobile phone penalties

Fines vary around the world from no fine in many Asian countries to thousands of dollars and licence suspensions in Canada.

New Zealand has an $80 fine which matches their low fines for speeding. Consequently 3.5% of Kiwi drivers use their phone while driving compared with about 1.5% in Australia.

Almost half (24) of American states have no hand-held phone ban. Some states only issue fines if the driver is in a school zone or committing some other traffic offence such as speeding. Arizona and Montana even allow drivers to text!

The toughest measures in the USA are in California. The state has a $US150 fine (about $A205) for the first offence and more than $US250 (about $A345) for a second violation and one point. If you’ve copped a fine, contact Attorney Patrick O’Keefe.

Canada has a distracted driving offence which attracts a $1000 fine and three demerit points. A second conviction could mean a fine of up to $2000 and a seven-day licence suspension. A third offence could mean a fine of up to $3000 and a 30-day suspension.

Fines in Europe vary from less than €50 (about $80) and one point in eastern Europe to €420 (about $A675) in the Netherlands and up to six points in the UK.Mobile Phones

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

In-car digital distractions increase

Misuse of mobile phones in cars is not the only driver distraction as car manufacturers are shovelling more and more digital diversions into their vehicles.

Honda is even planning a dashboard-wide panoramic digital interface for its coming electric hatchback (check the images above and below).

The car will feature five high-resolution colour screens with safety and entertainment information such as rear and side cameras, a WiFi hotspot, Apply CarPlay and even a selection of background wallpapers to please the eye!Honda digital distractions

In the middle are two 12.3-inch LCD touchscreens with customisable apps that you can access by swiping with your finger.

Some of the information includes comprehensive weather forecasts.

Honda digital distractions

Do drivers really need a comprehensive weather app to see if it’s raining. Surely the droplets on the windscreen are a good indication!

Whatever happened to hanging on to the steering wheel and looking out the windows or at your mirrors?

Digital epidemic

The National Transport Commission has identified that current rules about distracted driving are not keeping pace with technology, leading to a plague of distracted-driving crashes.

However, instead of addressing this increase of in-car tech, they are seeking non-technological solutions to the road rules.

The NTC cites studies showing a task that takes a driver’s ‘eyes off the road’ for as little as two seconds can be particularly hazardous.

RACQ road safety officer and motorcyclist Steve Spalding says driver distraction is “proving to be one of the most challenging issues of road safety in recent years”.

Steve Spalding safety officer RACQ motorcycle awareness month of May
Steve Spalding

“The solution could be simple if all drivers complied with the law, eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel and mind on the driving task,” he says.

It’s not just mobile phones that are increasing driver distractions, but also this plethora of onboard information being stuffed into modern cars.

If legislation is having trouble coping with the current invasion of mobile technology, how will it ever cope with the hi-tech entertainment being fitted to vehicles?

In Australia, distraction is a factor in 16% of injury crashes and a 2017 WA preliminary summary found that 28 fatalities (17%) were from inattention-related crashes, up more than 100% on the previous five-year average.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Tougher penalties for driver distraction

Tougher penalties for illegal use of mobile phones while driving will be discussed at a three-day Driver Distraction National Summit in Brisbane from Monday (1 July 2019).

If penalties are increased, there should be no complaints from motorcyclists.

Vulnerable motorcycle and scooter riders have long called for tougher penalties for distracted drivers.

They also have a unique perspective to see inside vehicle cabins where they have witnessed drivers not only talking on their phones, but updating their social media profiles and even taking selfies.

Summit crackdown

All state and territory governments will attend the summit which will also investigate a current NSW trial of roadside cameras that catch drivers on their phones.

Last September, NSW increased the penalty for illegally using a mobile phone while driving from four to five demerit points.

Now Queensland is believed to be considering increasing the penalty from $391 to $1000 and loss of licence for a second offence as in Canada.

Motorcycle Council of NSW Chairman Steve Pearce is also calling for mandatory licence suspension for mobile phone abuse.

“The growth of in-car displays is also a concern as they offer additional distraction to drivers in a road and traffic environment which is becoming busier and increasingly unforgiving,” he says.

Mobile phone penalties vary across the nation:Call to double driver phone penalties roundabouts distracted

Fines around the worldVietnam - double mobile phone penalties

Fines vary around the world from no fine in many Asian countries to thousands of dollars and licence suspensions in Canada.

New Zealand has an $80 fine which matches their low fines for speeding. Consequently 3.5% of Kiwi drivers use their phone while driving compared with about 1.5% in Australia.

Almost half (24) of American states have no hand-held phone ban. Some states only issue fines if the driver is in a school zone or committing some other traffic offence such as speeding. Arizona and Montana even allow drivers to text!

The toughest measures in the USA are in California. The state has a $US150 fine (about $A205) for the first offence and more than $US250 (about $A345) for a second violation and one point.

Canada has a distracted driving offence which attracts a $1000 fine and three demerit points. A second conviction could mean a fine of up to $2000 and a seven-day licence suspension. A third offence could mean a fine of up to $3000 and a 30-day suspension.

Fines in Europe vary from less than €50 (about $80) and one point in eastern Europe to €420 (about $A675) in the Netherlands and up to six points in the UK.Mobile Phones

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Selfies the new scourge of road deaths

If you think talking or texting on a mobile phone while driving is dangerous, a new trend of taking selfies has emerged to further endanger riders’ lives.

A US study has found more than 15% of drivers say they take selfies while driving. And 5% “go live” while driving, possibly imitating James Corden’s enormously popular Carpool Karaoke.

The Simply Insurance study, based on United States Department of Transportation data and a survey of American 1430 drivers, found 88% use their phones while driving, which includes handsfree.

Phone stats

It may not be as big in Australia where it is reported that only 1.5% of Aussie drivers illegally use their phones.

However, those statistics could be much less than the reality.

In NSW, about 40,000 drivers are fined each year for illegal use of a mobile phone.

Yet in a one-month trial of just two fixed special detection cameras on the M4 motorway and Anzac Parade and one mobile device, more than 11,000 offences were recorded. (They were not fined during the trial and there was no breakdown on talking, texting or taking selfies.)

In the same month only 1999 NSW drivers received mobile phones fines.

Selfies new scourge of road deaths
Camera detects a phone offence

The trial has now moved to a pilot program ending in April with no offence notices to be issued.

The cameras will be rolled out across the state later this year.

Misdiagnosed crashes

The problem is that many of the deaths occurring from illegal mobile phone use such as selfies go unreported, are “misdiagnosed” (possibly as speeding) or are categorised as distracted driving.

The US study found one in every four car accidents was caused by texting and driving. That does not include using the phone to make a call!

We wonder how many crashes in Australia could be attributed to illegal mobile phone use if only that was a category in the statistics and properly investigated by police, rather than just added to the “speeding” column.

And don’t think Aussies aren’t doing it, even though most support the tough penalties. In the US study, 94% of drivers support a ban on texting while driving, yet 98% claim they still do it.

So drivers seem to think it’s ok, so long as they get away with it.

However, it should be noted that US phone penalties are scant and low (see details further on in this article).

Tougher penaltiesSelfies new scourge of road deaths

Motorcycle riders are particularly keen on increasing mobile phone penalties.

We are endangered by mobile phone use as motorcycles are more difficult to spot in a driver’s periphery vision when it is glued to a phone.

Drivers who illegally use a mobile phone while driving should have their licence suspended, says the Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Steve Pearce.

NSW last year increased the penalty for illegally using a mobile phone while driving in from four to five demerit points following reports of drivers being fined for not only talking on their phones, but updating their social media profiles and taking selfies.

However, Steve says the MCCNSW believes that licence suspension for illegal mobile phone use should be mandatory.

Australian penalties

The National Transport Commission amended the Australian Road Rules to make it illegal to touch a mobile phone at any time while driving or stopped in traffic, unless it is “secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle” or “the phone does not require the driver, at any time while using it, to press anything on the body of the phone or to otherwise manipulate any part of the body of the phone”.

Most states have adopted this ruling.

Mobile phone fines vary across the nation:

Fines around the worldselfies Vietnam - double mobile phone penalties

Fines vary around the world from no fine in many Asian countries to thousands of dollars and licence suspensions in Canada.

New Zealand has a low $80 fine which matches their low fines for speeding. Consequently 3.5% of Kiwi drivers use their phone while driving compared with the reported 1.5% in Australia.

Almost half (24) of American states have no hand-held phone ban. Some states only issue fines if the driver is in a school zone or committing some other traffic offence such as speeding. Arizona and Montana even allow drivers to text!

The toughest measures in the USA are in California. The state has a $US150 fine (about $A205) for the first offence and more than $US250 (about $A345) for a second violation and one point.

Canada has a distracted driving offence which attracts a $1000 fine and three demerit points. A second conviction could mean a fine of up to $2000 and a seven-day licence suspension. A third offence could mean a fine of up to $3000 and a 30-day suspension.

Fines in Europe vary from less than €50 (about $80) and one point in eastern Europe to €420 (about $A675) in the Netherlands and up to six points in the UK.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Will 5G networks make riding safer?

5G phone networks may make autonomous driving and vehicle sensors more sensitive and reliable, but will the faster networks also increase driver distractions?

A Spanish automotive company has demonstrated how 5G capability will improve inter-vehicle communication to detect vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists.

Ficosa used Barcelona’s 5G network to demonstrate its Bitax telematic platform which combines Wi-Fi and cellular technology to operate vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) technology.

V2V and V2X uses sensors in each vehicle to detect the other, or an obstacle and then send alerts to the other vehicle to avoid a collision.

Ducati has been working with Bosch on a similar system and plans to introduce it next year.

Bosch radar warns riders of traffic autonomous 5g
Bosch radar warns riders of traffic

However, Ficosa is the first to launch the technology after connecting 500 vehicles in Denver, Colorado.

In its Barcelona demonstration, Ficosa showed how Bitax could detect a pedestrian via a thermal camera in traffic lights, a cyclist equipped with a “high-precision geolocation” unit and a car stopped by the roadside in low-light conditions.

The company says this proves the tech can also detect other vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists.5g V2V autonomous automated

“These use cases show how C-V2X technology offers a safer and more comfortable driving experience by allowing the vehicle to communicate with everything around it (other cars, traffic lights, traffic signals, pedestrians, cyclists, motorbikes, etc).

“For cars to ‘talk’ to the city, however, latency must be kept to a minimum. So, it is essential to roll out 5G capabilities.”

That means they need the higher-frequency signals of the next-generation network which has shorter range but less radio interference.

5G advantages/disadvantages

However, there are advantages and disadvantages in the faster network.

Speeds can be up to 10Gbps which is about 1000 times faster than most 4G signals. It is claimed it will download a movie in 10 seconds.

That would make it even faster than the best broadband network.

Great! So drivers will be tempted to watch Netflix instead of paying attention to the road.

Distracted drivers are already a major danger to riders.

St Paul Police Department has even axed its popular motorcycle unit over distracted driving crashes.

cops distracted drivers
Image from St Paul Police Department Facebook page

Apart from Barcelona, 5G has already been rolled out in some parts of the USA, South Korea, Sweden, Estonia, Turkey, Japan and China. Australia is expected to introduce 5G next year.

Samsung and several other Android brands will release 5G phones this year, but Apple will wait until 2020.

While 5G might help with the coming wave of automated and semi-automated vehicles using VC2V and V2X technology, it may not work in remote areas where riders are more likely to travel.

However, like current 4G phones, your next-gen phone will also be able to use previous generation signals for phone calls and data use.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com