Caught using phone while driving
Discussion
I’ve been accused of using a mobile phone while driving.
I know 100% I wasn’t holding it because it’s always in a mount, so I can only assume I touched the screen, my own fault because I didn’t realise doing this was not allowed.
I sent back the notice of intended prosecution confirming I was the driver, and was going to ask to see the photo evidence before admitting liability, but yesterday I received the fixed penalty,and it gave me the option to do a 3 hour online awareness course for £88 instead.
It’s not worth the hassle of asking for the evidence, I’ve just booked myself on the course .
Everything I’d read before receiving the fixed penalty indicated that a course wasn’t an option with a mobile phone offence, so I’m shocked I was offered it, does anyone know if this is a new thing?
I still haven’t got a clue exactly what it was I did wrong, it occurred to me that it could even have been an image of me holding my vape, I guess I’ll never know.
I know 100% I wasn’t holding it because it’s always in a mount, so I can only assume I touched the screen, my own fault because I didn’t realise doing this was not allowed.
I sent back the notice of intended prosecution confirming I was the driver, and was going to ask to see the photo evidence before admitting liability, but yesterday I received the fixed penalty,and it gave me the option to do a 3 hour online awareness course for £88 instead.
It’s not worth the hassle of asking for the evidence, I’ve just booked myself on the course .
Everything I’d read before receiving the fixed penalty indicated that a course wasn’t an option with a mobile phone offence, so I’m shocked I was offered it, does anyone know if this is a new thing?
I still haven’t got a clue exactly what it was I did wrong, it occurred to me that it could even have been an image of me holding my vape, I guess I’ll never know.
mikeouk said:
I’ve been accused of using a mobile phone while driving.
I know 100% I wasn’t holding it because it’s always in a mount, so I can only assume I touched the screen, my own fault because I didn’t realise doing this was not allowed.
I sent back the notice of intended prosecution confirming I was the driver, and was going to ask to see the photo evidence before admitting liability, but yesterday I received the fixed penalty,and it gave me the option to do a 3 hour online awareness course for £88 instead.
It’s not worth the hassle of asking for the evidence, I’ve just booked myself on the course .
Everything I’d read before receiving the fixed penalty indicated that a course wasn’t an option with a mobile phone offence, so I’m shocked I was offered it, does anyone know if this is a new thing?
I still haven’t got a clue exactly what it was I did wrong, it occurred to me that it could even have been an image of me holding my vape, I guess I’ll never know.
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-lawI know 100% I wasn’t holding it because it’s always in a mount, so I can only assume I touched the screen, my own fault because I didn’t realise doing this was not allowed.
I sent back the notice of intended prosecution confirming I was the driver, and was going to ask to see the photo evidence before admitting liability, but yesterday I received the fixed penalty,and it gave me the option to do a 3 hour online awareness course for £88 instead.
It’s not worth the hassle of asking for the evidence, I’ve just booked myself on the course .
Everything I’d read before receiving the fixed penalty indicated that a course wasn’t an option with a mobile phone offence, so I’m shocked I was offered it, does anyone know if this is a new thing?
I still haven’t got a clue exactly what it was I did wrong, it occurred to me that it could even have been an image of me holding my vape, I guess I’ll never know.
Gov Website said:
Using devices hands-free
You can use devices with hands-free access, as long as you do not hold them at any time during usage. Hands-free access means using, for example:
a Bluetooth headset
voice command
a dashboard holder or mat
a windscreen mount
a built-in sat nav
You can use devices with hands-free access, as long as you do not hold them at any time during usage. Hands-free access means using, for example:
a Bluetooth headset
voice command
a dashboard holder or mat
a windscreen mount
a built-in sat nav
mikeouk said:
I’ve been accused of using a mobile phone while driving.
I know 100% I wasn’t holding it because it’s always in a mount, so I can only assume I touched the screen, my own fault because I didn’t realise doing this was not allowed.
I sent back the notice of intended prosecution confirming I was the driver, and was going to ask to see the photo evidence before admitting liability, but yesterday I received the fixed penalty,and it gave me the option to do a 3 hour online awareness course for £88 instead.
It’s not worth the hassle of asking for the evidence, I’ve just booked myself on the course .
Everything I’d read before receiving the fixed penalty indicated that a course wasn’t an option with a mobile phone offence, so I’m shocked I was offered it, does anyone know if this is a new thing?
I still haven’t got a clue exactly what it was I did wrong, it occurred to me that it could even have been an image of me holding my vape, I guess I’ll never know.
If the phone is in a mount, it is legal to use it. I know 100% I wasn’t holding it because it’s always in a mount, so I can only assume I touched the screen, my own fault because I didn’t realise doing this was not allowed.
I sent back the notice of intended prosecution confirming I was the driver, and was going to ask to see the photo evidence before admitting liability, but yesterday I received the fixed penalty,and it gave me the option to do a 3 hour online awareness course for £88 instead.
It’s not worth the hassle of asking for the evidence, I’ve just booked myself on the course .
Everything I’d read before receiving the fixed penalty indicated that a course wasn’t an option with a mobile phone offence, so I’m shocked I was offered it, does anyone know if this is a new thing?
I still haven’t got a clue exactly what it was I did wrong, it occurred to me that it could even have been an image of me holding my vape, I guess I’ll never know.
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
Alex Z said:
If the phone is in a mount, it is legal to use it.
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
No, even if you touch the screen it’s an offence.https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
That’s been proven with my own situation, I never take the phone out of the mount
mikeouk said:
Alex Z said:
If the phone is in a mount, it is legal to use it.
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
No, even if you touch the screen it’s an offence.https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
That’s been proven with my own situation, I never take the phone out of the mount
Holding whilst using is the offence.
mikeouk said:
Alex Z said:
If the phone is in a mount, it is legal to use it.
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
No, even if you touch the screen it’s an offence.https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
That’s been proven with my own situation, I never take the phone out of the mount
Unless, maybe, there are other factors at play here? Maybe?
Never ceases to amaze me the amount of times I look in my rear view mirror when I am in traffic or waiting at traffic lights and the person behind is looking down, clearly on their phone.
I can't comprehend the fact they can't even be off it for the time it takes to drive somewhere and they think that their phone is more important than paying attention while driving.
I can't comprehend the fact they can't even be off it for the time it takes to drive somewhere and they think that their phone is more important than paying attention while driving.
DogStewie said:
What a joke. Phone user courses now eh? What next? Red light jumper awareness course? Indicator awareness course? Why are we babying terrible drivers, instead of outright punishing them and removing them from our already over congested with muppet roads?
Phone user courses used to exist. Then they were scrapped when the offence became six points and a fine. But now there seems to be discretion applied and courses offered. I know this because my other half had a completely brain fade moment and picked the phone up and then put it down. Idiot. Was seen doing it by an unmarked vehicle and pulled over. Was cautioned and the officer suggested she might be offered a course. I looked at what she was facing and warned her it was 6 points without any possibility of a course.
When the letter arrived just over 3 weeks later she was offered the course and will be attending it shortly.
So it seems that courses are offered..!
mikeouk said:
Alex Z said:
If the phone is in a mount, it is legal to use it.
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
No, even if you touch the screen it’s an offence.https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
That’s been proven with my own situation, I never take the phone out of the mount
Gericho said:
They also don't always work properly. My phone sat nav has gone blank many times at crucial locations and needed to be closed and reopened or the internet on/off for it to work itself out again. I can imagine a lot of people would quickly grab the phone to do that.
Sounds a pretty crappy phone if it does that regularly, perhaps time for a new and more reliable one.As for people putting phones in cradles to use them? Good grief I can't remember the last car I had that didn't have Android Auto / Apple CarPlay.
mikeouk said:
Alex Z said:
If the phone is in a mount, it is legal to use it.
https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
No, even if you touch the screen it’s an offence.https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-drivin...
That’s been proven with my own situation, I never take the phone out of the mount
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