Using phone handset whilst driving

I was in Norway a few weeks ago (not riding).

In urban center the drivers where very cautious and you only had to be vaguely near a pedestrian crossing and they stopped for you. Most no arterial town center roads also had a 30 kph speed limit which was definitely obeyed. Apparently people don't tend to brake driving rules out there much as the fines are very high.

However a did see alot of people driving on phones so I guess it must still be legal over there, which was strange considering the high standard of driving, but maybe that's it.. Maybe because enforcement of other driving laws are so high this encourages the drivers to be very aware and even though driving with a mobile clearly distracts you, their level of concentration is so much higher, and the level of caution so much greater it does not cause a problem. A bit like stoned drivers. Being stoned is clearly not good for peoples driving skills, but the effort and caution that stoned people put into driving has actually been show to minimise any extra risk in some studies*.

• I can't remember the study I'm afraid, it far from conclusive, but raises an interesting point.about knowing that your not at your best and compensating.
  
  

Its very illegal to drive while on the phone. I cant remember the fine, but its high, just not very well enforced. Urban driving in Norway is slower than in the UK and drivers are more alert to pedestrians.

I still find it a scarey place to cycle though. The general opinion is that cyclists should be on the pavement and not on the road (most cyclists I see use the pavement). I personally see this as dangerous, and therefore use the road. But as drivers dont expect this they often dont know how to react.

If I were to be honest, the most common problem I encounter is overcaution on the part of the motorist. At least a couple times a week someone overtakes me as if I were a car, by pulling onto the other side of the road, while on a blind bend. Scarey shit.

The weird thing is when you come to a patch of road with no path. I've experianced quite a few cyclists following the pedestrian rule (when forced to walk on the road) of travelling opposite to the direction of traffic!