Hackney cyclist catches policewoman on the phone at the wheel as she waits at traffic lights

If the police officer was breaking the law she should be reprimanded. In my own fantasy world the dick head on the bike would also be reprimanded for poor use of English, not riding with both hands on the handle bars and calling the police pigs.

For those unable to understand the man's emotions displayed at the end of the film - all I can say is clearly you are not a young black working class man living in London. I'm not either but I lived in South London for a few years and given the things the police were willing to do in front of me I dread to think what they do when they think no one is watching.

This.
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/new-traffic-radar-gun-will-detect-when-driver...

zanf

Couldn't agree more. Maybe if the cyclist in question was riding a Cervélo and was white the comments would be different

The glee he clearly takes in getting one over on the police is really sad and unpleasant. Also TBH I couldn't really see exactly what she was doing.

But there's not going to be a serious clampdown on things like phones when driving until coppers in a position to do something about it actually think it's unacceptable and I bet not many of them really do.
Like someone else above said they're still people drawn from a society that happily tolerates really poor standards of driving so in a way that's to be expected.
But when they put the uniform on they've got to set the standard. If you're setting yourself up as the authority you've got to act like it.

This is appalling. Really, really sloppy. Just shows the terrible standards these days; no-one seems to care. Just whip your phone out and crack on with no thought at all for the outcome.

Dreadful. Really.

You should never shoot portrait video.

If the call/text was to do with her job, surely the officer sitting next to her could have taken it to allow her to focus on driving? I'd be a bit more understanding if she was the only one in the vehicle and needed to take the call urgently. On the other hand if it was personal she should have A) not taken it, B) pulled over to take it or C) let the other officer drive.
Police are public servants and they are expected to uphold the letter of the law and set an example for the rest of us and if they make an error they should expect to be held accountable for it. This should not come as a surprise to any serving officer; it is part of the job description.

'Cyclist' is using a mobile phone to record this, not a GoPro camera. Also the way he talked to the officer only proves to me that he is a chav looking for trouble. Officer may have done something wrong or illegal but the 'cyclist' has no moral to judge the police in this case.

Cop bang to rights, no problem, though I can't tell if the vehicle was moving or if she was 'using' the device or just looking at it.....

I'm a bit confused as to what the rider was doing though, was he riding forward looking left and how does he get his face in shot? If he was using a phone or holding a camera riding in traffic, that's not clever either.

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986:
110. Mobile telephones

(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle on a road if he is using—
(a) a hand-held mobile telephone; or
(b) a hand-held device of a kind specified in paragraph (4).

4) A device referred to in paragraphs (1)(b), (2)(b) and (3)(b) is a device, other than a two-way radio, which performs an interactive communication function by transmitting and receiving data.

The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986:

6(d) “two-way radio” means any wireless telegraphy apparatus which is designed or adapted—
(i) for the purpose of transmitting and receiving spoken messages; and
(ii) to operate on any frequency other than 880 MHz to 915 MHz, 925 MHz to 960 MHz, 1710 MHz to 1785 MHz, 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz, 1900 MHz to 1980 MHz or 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz....

Probably sending a text to order some donuts …...

@Eebijeebi

The driver may not see any issue with answering a text or social update whilst in stationary traffic.

However, when you are sitting on a bicycle behind them and see through the cab that they are using a hand held device, the lights change to green and 5-10 seconds later they have not moved because they are distracted; this is because they are not in control of their vehicle?

A number of times I have come up to a junction, lights have been green throughout, but a driver is sitting stationary using their cell phone, completely oblivious to those around them, I have shouted a warning and seen them jolt as they are jumped out of their dream world.

The law is very clear on this aspect for this reason; however those responsible for enforcing the law are either restricted by budget reductions, excess paperwork, or just having a nice chat to their colleague once 'out of the office'.

Looks bad from the police and she should not offer up ammunition for sure, but two things -
1. You have to know exactly what she's doing on that phone because she isn't necessarily committing an offence.
2. I suggest that more drivers than not will not see the problem with reading an incoming text, composing a text or dialling a number whilst putting the phone onto speaker whilst sitting in traffic. Moving is a completely different kettle of fish.

@mrmo.

This is the thing that concerns me as a regular cycle commuter.

Too many times I will see a vehicle being driven without due care and the driver is using a cell phone, eating something, drinking a coffee, reading a map. You see a lack of control by the driver of the vehicle, and when the driver becomes visible you see something in their hands?

We can have more laws, but from my limited view of the journeys i take as a cycle commuter in London, there is a serious lack of Police enforcement on the streets, and drivers have realised this.

Over the past few months, the Met have undertaken operations which seem to involve officers stationed at key traffic junctions across London.

i will see these Police ignoring behaviour next to them such as motor vehicles driving into the ASL, or using cell phones. On a number of occasions I have got off my bike, asked the officers about the law on ASL enforcement and none could provide any clarification.

Last week near Aldgate I saw a lorry jump red lights, drive through a green pedestrian crossing missing several pedestrians by feet, and standing 10 feet away were 2 PCSO more interested in their chat than 'eyes open' policing?

The exemption seems to apply to airwave (police 2 way radio), not to 'cell' phones (what we call mobiles in UK).

The law specifically exempts 'push to talk' devices as used by emergency services and taxis, however any road traffic collision caused by lack of care and attention could be open to prosecution.

Can't even tell what it is in the video, she's just got something in her hand, not even held to her ear.

Would have been a story if he actually had filmed them driving whilst holding a phone. As it is only pedantics care, who lets face it, are probably a bit hypocritical too.

I'm with vanmildert - the parting comment was offensive and unnecessary.

Why some are surprised that a police officer uses a phone is puzzling, the police are people after all and there are some people out there that do stupid things - shock horror !

There is no excuse for anyone using a mobile phone while driving and the legislation states that it is OK to stop at the side of the road, apply the handbrake and take the call (if it's safe to stop of course), but stopping in a traffic queue or at a traffic light is not (you are still held to be driving).

The officer was dealt with for this offence by her bosses and hopefully won't be so stupid in the future.

Police officers on duty are explicitly exempt from the 'phone laws that apply to the rest of us.
They are, quite properly, allowed to use mobile phones and hand-held radios in the course of their work, how else could a lone officer carry out his duties?
That said, some individual forces have decided to restrict very tightly the occasions when it is permissible, probably to avoid the sort of photo we have just seen.