Mobile Phone - Confused

[theblacktuscks]

Having just seen the evening news on TV I'm confused. This is my set up. Telephone in car in cradle. Telephone set to automatic answer. Due to the beatiful background noise of the Tuscan S I wear a headset. Now that's the bit that the news implied was dodgy. I must have got this wrong. Can any one here confirm?

[porsche944]

As I understand it (don't blame me if you get fined!!!) your set up is fine for receiving calls (ie you don't have to touch the 'phone - and the 'phone is sitting in a cradle), but not for making calls (as you still have to push buttons to make the call).

I think that the way that the law works is that you must have your 'phone in a "cradle" (which, according to something I read today, in the Telegraph I think, can even just mean that the 'phone is blu-tacked to the dash!), and that you're not allowed to touch it in any way to make, or receive calls.

[wedg1e]

AFAIK it's OK to push the odd button (since what's the difference between pressing ANSWER and poking the A/C button - or fog lights switch ) but actually HOLDING the phone is verboten.

Ian

[ledfoot]

wedg1e said:

AFAIK it's OK to push the odd button (since what's the difference between pressing ANSWER and poking the A/C button

I have nearly crashed the car more often adjusting the climate control on my Audi, than making calls on my mobile. The air conditioning is by far more distracting than any phone call.

[streaky]

There is nothing in the Regulations that prohibits pressing any buttons any number of times ... only about not holding the 'phone. The Regulations do not even stop you texting on the move - so long as you are not holding the 'phone - S

[haggishead]

streaky said:

There is nothing in the Regulations that prohibits pressing any buttons any number of times ... only about not holding the 'phone. The Regulations do not even stop you texting on the move - so long as you are not holding the 'phone - S

The law is indeed an ass...

[mrflibbles]

So if i had one of those bluetooth headset jobbies, i could chuck my phone in the passenger footwell / glovebox / crotch and that would be fine, as even though it isn't in a cradle, i arent pressing buttons?

[ledfoot]

mrflibbles said:

So if i had one of those bluetooth headset jobbies, i could chuck my phone in the passenger footwell / glovebox / crotch and that would be fine, as even though it isn't in a cradle, i arent pressing buttons?

No...

I think the phone has to be in a cradle to be legal ?

Then you can press all the buttons you want

[theblacktuscks]

Thank you all for clearing the confusion . On matters of distraction I find that nagging bly woman on the SatNav who keeps telling me, in a breathless sexy sort of way, to turn left, or turn around, or take the next exit is almost as bad as the wife!

[streaky]

ledfoot said:

mrflibbles said: So if i had one of those bluetooth headset jobbies, i could chuck my phone in the passenger footwell / glovebox / crotch and that would be fine, as even though it isn't in a cradle, i arent pressing buttons? No... I think the phone has to be in a cradle to be legal ? Then you can press all the buttons you want

There is nothing in the Regulation that says the 'phone has to be in a cradle ... only that it must not be held. If a BlueTooth-enabled 'phone was in your pocket (I keep my T610 in my shirt pocket), or the glove compartment, or any closed compartment then I feel you could argue that you could not have been holding the 'phone. If it was on the passenger seat or in the footwell, that might arouse suspicion on the part of a police officer who thought they had seen you holding the 'phone. Don't listen to the confused police spokesmen, the cellular telephone operators and vendors, or the press ... read the Regulation yourself (www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=7530). It might be inadequate, but it's simple - Streaky