Dutch telecom company finds way to stop people using phone while ... cycling

Knowing I have an email or call is important and I may wish to stop to check my phone. Surely they can lock down some functionality or the screen rather than the connection (I believe the Pokemon game already does this as it doesn’t work when you go above 15kmh). Whilst they’re solving problems, I hate people phoning to tell someone they’re 5 minutes from the train getting in, twatting about with laptops in coffee shops, playing loud music on their phone, ruining a music gig by filming it and on and on… Maybe KPN could ban the mobile… Oh

Have you been to Amsterdam? Cyclist's mobile phone use is actually a major pain. The cycle lanes aren't that wide, and heading straight towards someone riding one handed looking at their phone is pretty scary.

Indeed.  Translate (if necessary) & read the linked article.  This is aimed at parents to stop their kids using Pokemon Go or whatever whilst on their bikes

It's actually meant to be for kids, at least that's what local news says. A large part of accidents in which cycling kids are involved is said to be caused by phone use. And, as everbody cycles here I can imagine parents buying the system.

I guess one of the target audience here is insurance, providing cheaper insurance to those that have and use the app or not providing insurance at all unless you have and use the app.

Is there any reward for using it? Surely the sort of people who'd buy this are already the sort of people who are less likely to be using their phone whilst riding?

They're blaming a sizeable proportion of accidents on them (20% of under-25s) according to this http://road.cc/content/news/191435-netherlands-considers-banning-use-mob...

Everyone's heard of "First World Problems". This sounds like the equivalent, but for those parts of the world that have reached an even higher, post-car-dominated stage of development.

So is it illegal to use a phone while cycling, in the Netherlands? 

Not the app of the week then?