to want HATE campaigns against foreigners in the popular Press to stop...

I am so glad more than 1, or 2- agree.

I told DH that I thought there should be stronger penalties for HGV drivers using phones because a 40 ton artic out of control is going to be a much more lethal weapon than a Fiat 500. As an ex HGV driver he wasn't convinced, but he is against all distractions while driving actually.

As far as the headlines are concerned I'm really beginning to feel that I don't like the country I'm living in anymore. I don't like the constant talk about "The will of the People" especially when it's the will of just over half the people and I'm in the other just under half. It's beginning to grate as much as Cameron did with his "Hard working" families, which suggested that those of us who didn't work might as well shoot ourselves now.

Possibly one or two, certainly not 'several' - but thank you for the pat on the head, granjura!

No, no Ana - several got the right end of the stick.

But glad you got to the same conclusion all by yourself. Bravo.

Oh, sorry granjura, have we all got the wrong end of the stick and should be complaining about the effect Brexit has had on the tabloid headlines...?

Jalima, it should be an automatic ban here too. Can i just point out racism is nothing to with BREXIT,if it was then only Britain would have a problem with racism, Mainland Europe is full of it to, you may not notice it so much on your 2 week holiday but try living there

This thread is not about driving or texting at the wheel - we all agree it is wrong, and criminal, and should be severely punished- FOR ALL. Confiscating vehicle would be a great start indeed.

This thread is about some newspapers using front cover after front cover spreading hate and targetting foreigners - as if they were the only culprits.

That would be a good idea - if only our police were so vigilant!

As it is, the number of drivers even prosecuted in the UK is far too low. Round here they just seem to turn a blind eye unless an accident is caused

The driver in the incident on the A34. our local road, could hardly be described as foreign, in the sense of a driver, who drives a foreign LHD vehicle in the UK and does not live in Britain.

The driver in the A34 accident had lived in the UK since 2002, working mostly as a driver. He was driving a normal British registered RHD lorry. He knew the law of the land he lived in and had no more excuse, or blame, for what he did than any other British driver.

Perhaps some more drastic action is required; don't they confiscate your vehicle in France if you're found using a mobile whilst driving?

Nobody, but nobody, is condoning using mobile and texting at the wheel. The Polish driver has been living and working in the UK for 16 years btw. But the Daily Mail front cover today, was clearly intimating it is a criminal habit used only or mainly by foreign drivers.

Has anyone thought that the drivers photographed were not actually driving btw? Those drivers stop in lay-bys to sleep, for the loo or something to eat - and will often phone home before setting off again. It is a very lonely job, long distance driving- and regular contact with home is essential.

Now how would have those 'journalists' take such clear pictures on the move? The fact is, that they probably saw many other drivers on the phone, but chose to photograph only the foreign ones, or to publish only those photos.

Just spent last 30 minutes looking at comments from the RAC- but can't find anthing stating that phoning/texting is mainly a problem with foreign drivers.

Here is the latest from RAC:

www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/15/illegal-mobile-phone-use-by-motorists-is-increasing-says-rac

Thank you Jalima. I am aware, of course, that the same thing applies to we British when we go over the water!!

Very well said Granjura, there definetly seems to be a trend towards putting a negative/racist slant on every incident/issue

The foreign driver who has just been convicted (Polish?) of the horrific crime of not really looking at the road for over a mile while he fiddled about on his phone finding music (running into the back of a car with a Mother and two children and killing them)has had too lenient a sentence IMHO as he will serve under ten years.This happened on the A34 in Berkshire, but could have happened on any road or motorway.That same morning he had signed a declaration at his depot that he would never use a mobile while driving.I know that British drivers use mobiles too, but there are many, many reports of foreign drivers driving badly and causing accidents.All that can be done ( because signing declarations doesn't work) is TriciaF very good idea
That all lorries simply cancel out any kind of phone signal once the engine is turned on.I wonder is this could ever be done?

I wonder whether using a mobile while driving is an offence in other countries? No excuse, of course, for doing it in this country as drivers should always familiarise themselves with the rules which apply to the country they're in.

That's a thought DIORisme, another aspect to it.

I saw the Mail the other day and they seem to have a campaign about all drivers using mobiles and texting. However, it must be even more risky when your driving position is on the "wrong" side of the road. The lorry driver who is alleged to have killed a cyclist (Italian) in London this week is also from the continent I think. Not so much a rant against "foreigners" I think as saying that continental vehicle drivers are not always in the best position literally to see when to overtake.

I didn't see the front page you referred to; any lorry driver using a mobile phone whilst driving is in charge of an accident waiting to happen - the thing is that lorry drivers, being in their cabs and higher up than cars, are less vulnerable than motorists.

Whatever the rights and wrongs (and I would not like to see racial hatred whipped up) this is rather a red herring when we should be aiming for a TOTAL BAN on mobiles being used in cars by drivers.

Killing people because you are trying to text, to find music, to take topless selfies (which is what one girl was doing apparently, when driving!!) is more than vile.

I am talking about the front cover of the Daily Mail - showing ONLY foreign drivers on their mobiles- clearly indicating that UK drivers do not behave like that. Each time we come to the UK, be it on the M1, M11, M20, M6, M40 - a massive proportion of drivers, white van drivers, lorry drivers- are on the phone or texting. And to some extent too in France, Switzerland, Italy- where we travel a lot - huge numbers do the same.

It's hugely dangerous, and criminal - but to put a whole front page of foreign drivers on this phones - as though they are the only perpetrators of that despicable and dangerous trend- is just, again, fulelling racism. It's vile.

It's hideous I ve completely stopped reading any papers the BBC is as bad there are dreadful campaigns out there and some journalist are truely bad folks for revving up a complete divide and rule over both stupid stupid Brexit and refugees and foreigner folk in general there are awful campaigns calling the poor little kids in Calais a cancer and it has given permission for all the obscure groups like ' refugees unwelcomed in Devon ' and Cornwall there may be other counties spawning these hideous groups but they are the ones I ve seen I truely hope when they have driven all the doctors care workers plumbers taxi drivers etc etc out of the country they don't get a burst pipe or a heart attack they might be waiting a long time for help

granjura I loathe the hate campaigns too, but I think you've picked on a poor example with the lorry drivers.

I heard a spokesman from the RAC (I think on the Today programme) saying that a disproportionate number of foreign HGV drivers were charged with driving while using their mobiles.

I don't think the RAC as an organisation has a remit to spread hatred, they are just stating the facts.

How many HGV drivers using their mobiles did you see on your travels, by the way?

Yes TriciaF my husband has said for a long time that technology must be out there. One wonders why it is not in use. ( or am I being cynical )
Granjura I was just askin - you dancin ?

Jalima that article certainly refers to Russian Roulette, they can't resist bringing something foreign into everything!

There is some awful journalism about lately feeding the bigotry of so many people. I suspect that bigotry has always been there but Social Media, Online News, etc has just made it more noticeable. It is just so disheartening.

Like others, the media reports I've seen criticise drivers of all races, it certainly applies to the link you give, Jalima.
I might be technologically naive,but I would have thought it's possible to build a system into vehicles which would cut out all outside connections to mobile phones etc, once the engine is started.

Me too Anya
It seems unduly lenient for killing four people.

Many sentences seem too lenient these days, especially since, in the majority of cases, only half the sentence is inside a prison.

I feel at anyone who uses a mobile phone at the wheel and I do think they get equal coverage whatever the nationality.

I know which newspaper you refer to granjura and I have just googled their stance on using mobile phones at the wheel and, from what I have seen, it is not racist - they are campaigning against all drivers who do so and the ones in this link are not foreign.
It is all so and avoidable
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3789980/Families-three-women-killed-drivers-phones-call-end-mobile-madness.html