So who is going to admit to 6 points, or knowing someone....
Discussion
Um, well, yes, there is "holding" implied in the term handheld
From gov.uk
Link: https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
Text:
It’s illegal to use your phone while driving or riding a motorcycle unless you have hands-free access, such as:
a bluetooth headset
voice command
a dashboard holder
Summary - its the "hand held" which is the issue, not the use. With it stuck on the dashboard, text away....
From gov.uk
Link: https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
Text:
It’s illegal to use your phone while driving or riding a motorcycle unless you have hands-free access, such as:
a bluetooth headset
voice command
a dashboard holder
Summary - its the "hand held" which is the issue, not the use. With it stuck on the dashboard, text away....
Which IMO is the massive flaw in this legislation.
If it is dangerous to use Facebook when driving, then it's not more dangerous to use hand held Facebook than dash mounted Facebook. The dangerous bit is the fact that you are looking at a screen, not where you are going.
Couple that with the equality of punishment between doing 70 while Facebooking, and sitting in a traffic jam Facebooking, and you start wondering about the intellect of the people who drafted it.
This is "dangerous dogs" Mk2.
If it is dangerous to use Facebook when driving, then it's not more dangerous to use hand held Facebook than dash mounted Facebook. The dangerous bit is the fact that you are looking at a screen, not where you are going.
Couple that with the equality of punishment between doing 70 while Facebooking, and sitting in a traffic jam Facebooking, and you start wondering about the intellect of the people who drafted it.
This is "dangerous dogs" Mk2.
rxe said:
If it is dangerous to use Facebook when driving, then it's not more dangerous to use hand held Facebook than dash mounted Facebook. The dangerous bit is the fact that you are looking at a screen, not where you are going.
Couple that with the equality of punishment between doing 70 while Facebooking, and sitting in a traffic jam Facebooking, and you start wondering about the intellect of the people who drafted it.
They weren't soothsayers.Couple that with the equality of punishment between doing 70 while Facebooking, and sitting in a traffic jam Facebooking, and you start wondering about the intellect of the people who drafted it.
vonhosen said:
It's hand held & use that are the issue.
Either on their own isn't an offence (under this particular bit of legislation), but both together are.
But what does 'use' mean?Either on their own isn't an offence (under this particular bit of legislation), but both together are.
If I pick up my mobile phone from the passenger seat, and all I wish to do is see what time it is, is that an offence?
Some people seem to feel happy that the law is quite clear and reasonable, but to me it isn't; it is neither fully clear nor reasonable.
...and there's still the difficulty, to my mind at least, that the use of CB radios by drivers is (apparently) OK, but hand held mobile phones are not. I've also heard that this is partly on the basis that they each operate on different frequency bands, but that is true, what difference does that make. They can both present a severely distracting effect on the safe functioning of drivers if used in inappropriate circumstances.
p1esk said:
But what does 'use' mean?
If I pick up my mobile phone from the passenger seat, and all I wish to do is see what time it is, is that an offence?
Some people seem to feel happy that the law is quite clear and reasonable, but to me it isn't; it is neither fully clear nor reasonable.
...and there's still the difficulty, to my mind at least, that the use of CB radios by drivers is (apparently) OK, but hand held mobile phones are not. I've also heard that this is partly on the basis that they each operate on different frequency bands, but that is true, what difference does that make. They can both present a severely distracting effect on the safe functioning of drivers if used in inappropriate circumstances.
Yes - picking up your phone to look at the time gets you nicked. If I pick up my mobile phone from the passenger seat, and all I wish to do is see what time it is, is that an offence?
Some people seem to feel happy that the law is quite clear and reasonable, but to me it isn't; it is neither fully clear nor reasonable.
...and there's still the difficulty, to my mind at least, that the use of CB radios by drivers is (apparently) OK, but hand held mobile phones are not. I've also heard that this is partly on the basis that they each operate on different frequency bands, but that is true, what difference does that make. They can both present a severely distracting effect on the safe functioning of drivers if used in inappropriate circumstances.
Leaning over to look at the time when your phone is on the passenger seat - is OK.
I'm not sure about turning your phone over to see the time without picking it up.
Operating your phone without picking it up - I believe this is OK. So in theory, phone between legs on driver's seat is OK, as long as you put it there before you set off. Fundamentally this situation is the same as a dash mount, it is "hands free".
Clearly you can still be nicked for not being in control.
rxe said:
p1esk said:
But what does 'use' mean?
If I pick up my mobile phone from the passenger seat, and all I wish to do is see what time it is, is that an offence?
Some people seem to feel happy that the law is quite clear and reasonable, but to me it isn't; it is neither fully clear nor reasonable.
...and there's still the difficulty, to my mind at least, that the use of CB radios by drivers is (apparently) OK, but hand held mobile phones are not. I've also heard that this is partly on the basis that they each operate on different frequency bands, but if that is true, what difference does that make? They can both present a severely distracting effect on the safe functioning of drivers if used in inappropriate circumstances.
Yes - picking up your phone to look at the time gets you nicked. If I pick up my mobile phone from the passenger seat, and all I wish to do is see what time it is, is that an offence?
Some people seem to feel happy that the law is quite clear and reasonable, but to me it isn't; it is neither fully clear nor reasonable.
...and there's still the difficulty, to my mind at least, that the use of CB radios by drivers is (apparently) OK, but hand held mobile phones are not. I've also heard that this is partly on the basis that they each operate on different frequency bands, but if that is true, what difference does that make? They can both present a severely distracting effect on the safe functioning of drivers if used in inappropriate circumstances.
Leaning over to look at the time when your phone is on the passenger seat - is OK.
I'm not sure about turning your phone over to see the time without picking it up.
Operating your phone without picking it up - I believe this is OK. So in theory, phone between legs on driver's seat is OK, as long as you put it there before you set off. Fundamentally this situation is the same as a dash mount, it is "hands free".
Clearly you can still be nicked for not being in control.
"Not being in proper control! would have covered the whole thing quite nicely, and avoided penalising a lot of people quite unjustifiably.
I don't even use phones hands free these days. More to do with getting annoyed at the poor call quality and straining to hear what people say, but additionally I've always been a "full on concentration" type of driver and I do find phone calls in the car an annoying distraction to that, even if sometimes it's just that I like to observe scenery as well as traffic. I enjoy driving and don't want it spoiled by poxy pointless phone calls from work about complete crap. Also I like to make notes in work phone calls which I obviously can't do in the car.
I told work I wasn't going to answer the phone in the car any more and they are fine with it. Removes a lot of unnecessary stress from journeys.
I told work I wasn't going to answer the phone in the car any more and they are fine with it. Removes a lot of unnecessary stress from journeys.
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