Mobile Phone use in a car

[Jamalsmith]

Morning,

I cant post in SPL yet......

Can you use a mobile when the engine is off ?

The law relates to proper control of the car, if the engine is off and handbrake applied would that count, or is there still an angle where you could fall foul ?

Thanks

[bunchofkeys]

Jamalsmith said:

Morning,

I cant post in SPL yet......

Can you use a mobile when the engine is off ?

The law relates to proper control of the car, if the engine is off and handbrake applied would that count, or is there still an angle where you could fall foul ?

Thanks

https://is.gd/mvyek1

Hope this helps.

[JmatthewB]

The law states you can only use your phone when you are safely parked.

If you are stationary in a queue it is illegal to use your phone, even if your engine is off (say if your car has stop-start) and handbrake is on.

[Terzo123]

[monthou]

How hard is it to put your phone in a cradle?

[surveyor]

JmatthewB said:

The law states you can only use your Handheld phone when you are safely parked.

If you are stationary in a queue it is illegal to use your phone, even if your engine is off (say if your car has stop-start) and handbrake is on.

[Wagonwheel555]

If you work for Addison Lee, you can do what you like with your phone while driving.

If you are parked up, not in the flow of traffic and your engine is off then yes you can use your phone.

If you are clearly not parked up, i.e in traffic then regardless of engine status you can get points and a fine.

[LochTay]

Jamalsmith said:

Morning,



Can you use a mobile when the engine is off ?

The law relates to proper control of the car, if the engine is off and handbrake applied would that count, or is there still an angle where you could fall foul ?

Thanks

Two thoughts
- parked (not in carriageway / queue etc) properly, handbrake on, engine switched off on key etc = that is fine.
- in any vaguely modern car, how hard is it to use the handsfree if you need to make a call?

If you are worried, you can step out of the car.

[CarCrazyDad]

monthou said:

How hard is it to put your phone in a cradle?

Have you ever tried to type or use your phone in those? Much easier to simply hold your phone.

The law is confusing, what does "parked" define?
In a marked space ?
So what if you are in a lay-by which isn't "marked"


To me if your engine is off and you're sat in bumper to bumper traffic on the M6 because a Lorry has decided to crash into the central reservation you should be free to use your Mobile Phone.

I wouldn't think the 15 seconds stationary at a red light would constitute as parked, however, so probably less of a good idea.

I think some common sense needs to apply, my own personal view is that using a Mobile is no worse than some of these horrific touch screens that some cars have. I looked at Mk8 Golf and thought it was dangerous how complicated and fiddly the infotainment system was.

In any event I would argue if your engine is off and you're stopped for more than a minute or two then there's no harm done.

I'm lucky my phone is about 5 years old and I rarely use it!

[SS2.]

Jamalsmith said:

Can you use a mobile when the engine is off ?

The law relates to proper control of the car, if the engine is off and handbrake applied would that count, or is there still an angle where you could fall foul ?

The specific law prohibits the use of a hand-held phone (or specified device) whilst 'driving' for calls or other interactive communication functions. Note that you don't necessarily need to be moving, or even have the engine running to be regarded as 'driving'.

Not being in proper control is an entirely separate offence.

Edited by SS2. on Monday 21st June 13:04

[SS2.]

JmatthewB said:

The law states you can only use your phone when you are safely parked.

No, it doesn't.

[Mark V GTD]

monthou said:

How hard is it to put your phone in a cradle?

What difference does that make - does the phone then become a non handheld device in the eyes of the law?

[monthou]

CarCrazyDad said:

monthou said:

How hard is it to put your phone in a cradle?

Have you ever tried to type or use your phone in those? Much easier to simply hold your phone.

Yes, I have.
It's not ideal but neither is it illegal (with the usual due care caveat).
If you can't use a phone in a cradle when sat in a queue / engine off / handbrake on (as per the OP) then I'm surprised tbh.
Is it easier to hold a phone? Yes. Is it legal? No.

[monthou]

Mark V GTD said:

monthou said:

How hard is it to put your phone in a cradle?

What difference does that make - does the phone then become a non handheld device in the eyes of the law?

Obviously yes. Handheld = held in... the hand.

[Mark V GTD]

Not obvious to me - hence the question.

[stef1808]

So its illegal to use my phone contactless payments at a drive-through?

[Mark V GTD]

Thats probably a bit of a grey area - I suspect a lot of this legislation started when phones were largely just that - they did calls and you could send SMS messages. Not sure anyone even considered the concept of one being used a contactless payment device then.

[ashenfie]

Technically yes using contact payments in a drive though is illegal

[CarCrazyDad]

monthou said:

CarCrazyDad said:

monthou said:

How hard is it to put your phone in a cradle?

Have you ever tried to type or use your phone in those? Much easier to simply hold your phone.

Yes, I have.
It's not ideal but neither is it illegal (with the usual due care caveat).
If you can't use a phone in a cradle when sat in a queue / engine off / handbrake on (as per the OP) then I'm surprised tbh.
Is it easier to hold a phone? Yes. Is it legal? No.

My point is that is it "safer" to hold your phone for 10 seconds with an occasional glance down or spend 45 seconds fumbling at a reach ?

Goes to my point about applying some common sense.

As far as I'm aware it is legal to use a mobile phone in a hand-held cradle or holder while driving.

Either way I don't think you should be using a mobile phone when moving at all in a car.

[monthou]

Mark V GTD said:

Not obvious to me - hence the question.

What else could 'handheld' mean?