Using a mobile while driving /touching it no more

[Welshbeef]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/oct/17...

So for us who use Bluetooth to stream music to our cars & change playlists it’s now illegal £200 fine plus points.

Likewise touching your phone even if using it as a navigation device now illegal £200 fine plus points.

In fact using your phone in any way whatsoever - as in touching it fine.


So let’s talk about it for a bit how will you change?
Will it be you set us a full playlist first so no need to change music (even stationary in traffic jams is deemed illegal).

What app text calls all of hand held illegal.

[Gecko1978]

Non story, i set nav before i leave, phone links to car do calls music etc all controlled via the car.

Lets be honest if you are typing in a location while driving its the same as texting.

[Welshbeef]

It very much is - though on my in car satnav I set it before leaving I don’t recall restyling in a new destination en route and it auto changes route for traffic /quicker way if accident etc.

[frisbee]

If only someone could invent some sort of device that lets you mount a phone in your car.

[Bill]

Just put it in a holder. Frankly, if you're not doing that already you're a fkwit.

[DaveCWK]

If the car is in a holder or fixed in position some other way none of this applies though does it?
Get a £3 vent holder, text to your hearts content.

[TEKNOPUG]

DaveCWK said:

If the car is in a holder or fixed in position some other way none of this applies though does it?
Get a £3 vent holder, text to your hearts content.

It all still applies. You can't touch the phone to change anything. All you will be allowed is to look at the screen.

You are if course allowed to scroll through 20 screens of your infotainment system trying adjust the footwell temperature, that's all completely fine...

[andoverben]

In principle it isn't really an issue but there should be the caveat that it only applys if the car is moving.

This should be common sense that if the car is not moving you are not going to run anyone over but unfortunately a significant amount (probably majority although I don't know the stats) of people prosecuted for using the mobile while driving were actually stationary in a traffic jam - and probably trying to call/message the person they are running late to see.

2 of my colleagues have been prosecuted in exactly this way, 2 minutes on Twitter will see dozens of examples of cyclists filming stationary drivers in traffic jams holding their mobile phone and then hounding the police into prosecuting them.

If the definition of being in control of the car is deemed to be sat at the drivers seat then, are you supposed to open the door and stand next to the car?

Also I think if there is an accident and an alternative route comes up it says do you want to accept alternative route, how are you supposed to click accept?

[andoverben]

Gecko1978 said:

Lets be honest if you are typing in a location while driving its the same as texting.

100% agree, the issue will be the definiton of driving. if driving = moving then no issue at all, if driving = sat in driver seat then this is going to be a big probem.

Under the current interpretation you could be stationary with the engine not running, the Phone in a mount and be prosecuted for clicking accept on the screen to the question 'Find alternavie route?"

That doesn't seem so reasonable

[Welshbeef]

What if your car is parked on the road it’s winter so engine is running to de ice. But your sat in the car getting warm and using your phone.

If in your own drive no problem or any private roads but highway /adopted roads no it’s not.

[Bill]

TEKNOPUG said:

It all still applies. You can't touch the phone to change anything. All you will be allowed is to look at the screen.

That's not correct. You are not allowed to use a hand held phone. In a mount is fine.

[steveo3002]

more rules /laws...i dont see anyone enforcing it around here , could catch people like shooting fish in a barrel but no one does

[Tom Logan]

What happens then with such as taxi drivers who constantly use hand-held radio mikes?

The same rules apply surely?

[SS2.]

Tom Logan said:

What happens then with such as taxi drivers who constantly use hand-held radio mikes?

The same rules apply surely?

Not unless the device meets the statutory definition of a [hand held] mobile phone.

[OldGermanHeaps]

different rules for communication devices not using mobile phone frequencies.

[Liokault]

Bill said:

TEKNOPUG said:

It all still applies. You can't touch the phone to change anything. All you will be allowed is to look at the screen.

That's not correct. You are not allowed to use a hand held phone. In a mount is fine.

I thought the law said “electronic device” not “hand held phone” .

I’m still waiting for people with touch screens built into in their car to be in trouble as is already happening in europe.

[Heartworm]

Tom Logan said:

What happens then with such as taxi drivers who constantly use hand-held radio mikes?

The same rules apply surely?

Radios/cb tacos didn’t fall under the previous legislation so I doubt they fall under the new .

[devnull]

Quite welcome really. Ever since I fitted a CarPlay unit to my car, the phone gets connected up in the glovebox and stays there.

The vast majority of people are still welded to their phones - you only have to drive slowly past a queue for a junction in the morning to see nearly all the drivers in their default “staring at their navel” position as they fiddle with their device.

[TEKNOPUG]

Bill said:

TEKNOPUG said:

It all still applies. You can't touch the phone to change anything. All you will be allowed is to look at the screen.

That's not correct. You are not allowed to use a hand held phone. In a mount is fine.

"A government spokeswoman said that motorists could still also use phones as satnavs, if not physically holding them. Drivers could still be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention if they try to type in directions at the wheel."

[SS2.]

Perhaps best to wait for the actual legislation to be published before jumping to conclusions as to what it may or may not say.