should police be exempt from using handheld devices?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Seen so many over the years doing this... using the shoulder mounted radio coms whilst driving/operating a motor vehicle.


just yesterday while helping recover BIL's broken down vehicle 2 officers in separate vehicle kindly stopped to stop flow on roundabout for us to get in and hook towbar and get out of harms way.


what I didn't agree with was once they were done and moving their vehicles one hand was on the wheel one hand was on the shoulder mounted radio coms.


so the question should the police be exempt from the rules of not using handheld devices behind the wheel IF there was an alternative to use handsfree or the technology available for vehicle fitted handsfree?

Edwood_Woodwood

The police are already exempt when using radio communications.

Just like taxi drivers.

forgotmyname

Not just Taxi drivers is it? Top gear and other shows started using 2 way radio's also. Seems the law didnt include them when banning the use of mobile phones.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

forgotmyname wrote: »

Not just Taxi drivers is it? Top gear and other shows started using 2 way radio's also. Seems the law didnt include them when banning the use of mobile phones.

they are not excluded, you can still be done if police believe that you are distracted by the device.


police radio's are not simply 2 way, Tetra can be 4-way or used as a mobile phone, and thus I believe tetra not to be soley 2 way radio but a mobile device but to pass legislation they are manufacturer labeled as a 2 way radio coms with extra features.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Edwood_Woodwood wrote: »

The police are already exempt when using radio communications.

Just like taxi drivers.

Taxi drivers use a different system and even then im not quite happy that taxi drivers have conflabs whilst operating their cabs and their radio's.


the tetra systems are different in that they can be used as a mobile phone, if it can be used as a mobile phone then surely its classed as a mobile handheld device.

Armorica

Do police take advanced driving courses/testing though which means they may still be better drivers one-handed with quick reactions...

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Armorica wrote: »

Do police take advanced driving courses/testing though which means they may still be better drivers one-handed with quick reactions...

So if I pass an advance driver course, can I be exempt at all times.


or would you prefer to have the reassurance that police fit systems to vehicles where there is no need to have just one hand but two hand on the wheel whilst performing the simplest of menouvers around you?


I would rather they were used in emergencies only behind the wheel and at all other times their concentration is focused on driving.


most of the time their in pairs, but there are times when they are alone and don't have another pair of eyes looking out for them and conflab or doing commentaries whilst driving, this bit scares me.


yesterday I would have preferred they sat where they where blocking traffic and completed the jargon they used to control, rather than trying to make it round a roundabout whilst jargoning with control.

arcon5

Taxi units are fastened down or in a holder, thus no longer mobile.

if you think police shhouldnt be allowed to use communication devices then frankly your pretty dim. Are you saying if they see a suspect car for example they should pull over and turn off their engines to communicate? Or pull over during a police chase?
Ye how practical

InsideInsurance

arcon5 wrote: »

Or pull over during a police chase?

As soon as they have their lights/sirens on then they are allowed to break road traffic laws as long as their actions are proportionate to the situation/ safety of others is still considered etc

Hopefully they arent doing a police chase without their lights/ sirens

DoctorFoster

InsideInsurance wrote: »

As soon as they have their lights/sirens on then they are allowed to break road traffic laws as long as their actions are proportionate to the situation/ safety of others is still considered etc

Hopefully they arent doing a police chase without their lights/ sirens

Which pub did you hear that in?

The law makes no mention of lights and seirens merely police purposes.

DoctorFoster

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

they are not excluded, you can still be done if police believe that you are distracted by the device.


police radio's are not simply 2 way, Tetra can be 4-way or used as a mobile phone, and thus I believe tetra not to be soley 2 way radio but a mobile device but to pass legislation they are manufacturer labeled as a 2 way radio coms with extra features.

As can police and ambulance service who both use the same system.

It's a shame the police didn't just do you both for obstruction instead of helping you.