Is it Legal To Use Walkie-Talkies Whilst Driving?

[Clivew]

We have to transport eleven horses from Central Scotland to the south of England later in the week and it will involve two of us driving them in two lorries. So we can keep in touch as we drive is it legal for us to talk using hand held radios, or is this illegal? They are not CB radios but genuine approved units. I have noticed other truckers using them, for instance, abnormal loads where drivers have to stay in contact with escort vehicles.

[agtlaw]

Legal in England if:
- in proper control of the vehicle; and
- operating 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.

[Centurion07]

Since, IIRC, some woman was prosecuted for eating an apple and therefore not being "in proper control of her vehicle", I would suspect if they REALLY wanted to prosecute you for it, they probably could.

[Bigends]

Clivew said:

We have to transport eleven horses from Central Scotland to the south of England later in the week and it will involve two of us driving them in two lorries. So we can keep in touch as we drive is it legal for us to talk using hand held radios, or is this illegal? They are not CB radios but genuine approved units. I have noticed other truckers using them, for instance, abnormal loads where drivers have to stay in contact with escort vehicles.

Just use them discretely -shouldnt be a problem

[offshorematt2]

Clive - I've driven all over the UK with them and never had an issue. As some one said, just be a little discrete and you'll be fine.

[Clivew]

Thanks folks, I don't intend to blether all the time, it's just in case of problems with the horses or such like.

[Cat]

agtlaw said:

Legal in England if:
- in proper control of the vehicle; and
- operating 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.

Exactly the same in Scotland.

Cat

[SpikeBmth]

The police use 2 way radios while driving, so thats probably why legal to do so

[klingelton]

poor advise all round. it's not legal to use a hand held communication device whilst driving. The police do not use 2 way radios whilst driving. They have to pull over to use them.

use your walkie talkies and be liable for prosecution.

alternatively there are plenty of hands free kits for your walkie talkies.

[Centurion07]

klingelton said:

The police do not use 2 way radios whilst driving. They have to pull over to use them.

Er....

[Aretnap]

klingelton said:

poor advise all round. it's not legal to use a hand held communication device whilst driving.

The law includes an exception for two way radios operating on certain frequencies.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/2695/regul...

[Baryonyx]

You may have also noticed the police exceeding speed limits, driving through red lights and ignoring keep left and keep right signs. I wouldn't treat them as an example of what you're allowed to do whilst driving!

[Bigends]

Con and Use regs state

(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.

[Tonto]

klingelton said:

poor advise all round. it's not legal to use a hand held communication device whilst driving. The police do not use 2 way radios whilst driving. They have to pull over to use them.

use your walkie talkies and be liable for prosecution.

alternatively there are plenty of hands free kits for your walkie talkies.

A few years back, at a petrol station south of Fort William, a police officer came over to me to explain that I was driving his wife's favourite car. Just at that point, my mate in another car walkie talkied me.

Thought it best to confirm the legality of it before picking it up.

"Yes sir, fine to use, as long as you remain in control of your vehicle".

[Nigel Worc's]

klingelton said:

poor advise all round. it's not legal to use a hand held communication device whilst driving. The police do not use 2 way radios whilst driving. They have to pull over to use them.

use your walkie talkies and be liable for prosecution.

alternatively there are plenty of hands free kits for your walkie talkies.

You Sir are a complete knob.

If you have no knowledge of a subject, it is probably better not to comment.

[TVR1]

klingelton said:

poor advise all round. it's not legal to use a hand held communication device whilst driving. The police do not use 2 way radios whilst driving. They have to pull over to use them.

use your walkie talkies and be liable for prosecution.

alternatively there are plenty of hands free kits for your walkie talkies.

As wrong as Jimmy Saville.

[speedking31]

klingelton = salesman of hands-free kits for walkie-talkies.

[Hooli]

klingelton said:

poor advise all round. it's not legal to use a hand held communication device whilst driving. The police do not use 2 way radios whilst driving. They have to pull over to use them.

use your walkie talkies and be liable for prosecution.

alternatively there are plenty of hands free kits for your walkie talkies.

I don't think I've seen so much wrong in one post for a long time.

[BertieWooster]

klingelton said:

poor advise all round. it's not legal to use a hand held communication device whilst driving. The police do not use 2 way radios whilst driving. They have to pull over to use them.

use your walkie talkies and be liable for prosecution.

alternatively there are plenty of hands free kits for your walkie talkies.

First of all it is "Poor", "It's", "Use" and "Alternatively". Secondly it's "advice" and not "advise". And thirdly, all of the above is complete and utter rubbish.

[CoolC]

Let's face it. We see the Top Gear boys using them all the time on their challenges, even the UK ones.

If the BBC are doing it on air, then surly if it was illegal there would be news stories every Monday calling for prosecutions etc.