new tougher rules for mobile phone users

Fat_Walt

neilmcl wrote: »

Existing offences for not being in control of the vehicle, careless or indeed dangerous driving.

But only if they can prove you were not in control or the standard of your driving was below or far below that expected of a competent driver. It's not an offence to simply used the device.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Fat_Walt wrote: »

If it's mounted using it wouldn't be in dispute. The question being is it still hand held?

The Definition of a Hand-Held Mobile Phone The Regulation includes any "device, other than a two-way radio, which performs an interactive communication function by transmitting and receiving data".
It states that a "mobile telephone or other device is to be treated as hand-held if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function". "interactive communication function" includes:

1. sending or receiving oral or written messages;
2. sending or receiving facsimile documents;
3. sending or receiving still or moving images; and
4. providing access to the internet

There are two exemptions:

• 2-way "press to talk" radios, such as used by the emergency services and taxi drivers
• Using a hand-held phone for a genuine emergency call to 999 or 112 if it would be unsafe for the driver to stop.

Simply by interacting with a mobile device in its holder whilst driving or with the engine running but stationary you commit an offence.

Fat_Walt

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

The Definition of a Hand-Held Mobile Phone The Regulation includes any "device, other than a two-way radio, which performs an interactive communication function by transmitting and receiving data".
It states that a "mobile telephone or other device is to be treated as hand-held if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function". "interactive communication function" includes:

1. sending or receiving oral or written messages;
2. sending or receiving facsimile documents;
3. sending or receiving still or moving images; and
4. providing access to the internet

There are two exemptions:

• 2-way "press to talk" radios, such as used by the emergency services and taxi drivers
• Using a hand-held phone for a genuine emergency call to 999 or 112 if it would be unsafe for the driver to stop.

Simply by interacting with a mobile device in its holder whilst driving or with the engine running but stationary you commit an offence.

If it's within a holder it's no longer handheld.

tony6403

consumers_revenge wrote: »

People will still use phones - police enforcement just doesn't happen.


I see about 1 in 12 drivers on their phones ( not handsfree ) when driving my motorbike EVERY SINGLE DAY and I only do 11 miles a day.


Always fun to slow down, make an obvious check off their number plates and wait for them to register I'm checking their number plates then the phone goes away straight away. I am in a high viz police type jacket ( actually a builders jacket ), once glance and the phone goes away.


Drivers know there are no police about so don't care.

Perhaps a new offence should be created ; that of being distracted whilst counting mobile phone use by other drivers.

arcon5

Tbh I wouldn't be taking any advice on road safety given by a biker too seriously. They seem to be a law upon them self. Natural selection and all that.

Mercdriver

arcon5 wrote: »

Tbh I wouldn't be taking any advice on road safety given by a biker too seriously. They seem to be a law upon them self. Natural selection and all that.

That's quite a bold generalisation. Care to back it up with actual facts rather than hyperbole?

George_Michael

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

The Definition of a Hand-Held Mobile Phone The Regulation includes any "device, other than a two-way radio, which performs an interactive communication function by transmitting and receiving data".
It states that a "mobile telephone or other device is to be treated as hand-held if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function". "interactive communication function" includes:

You posted the information above but it appears that you didn't actually read what you were posting as you missed the most important part of it:

if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing

If the phone is mounted in a hands free holder then irrespective of having to touch the screen to type a text, you are not in breach of the regulations concerned.

Yes, you may well be breaking other laws but not the one you quoted.

Sicard

neilmcl wrote: »

I love it when posters come along and see here are the facts then go ahead and plagiarise, word for word, something they've just googled and read from a newspaper from 2014 - http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/490393/Mobile-phone-use-the-biggest-cause-of-road-fatalities

I love it when hillbilly's come along and diss because they've gone through their miserable sad lives unable to contribute anything positive to society...

w50nky

Perhaps in the future phone manufacturers will use the phones GPS facility to inhibit the phones use whilst the phone is traveling over say 10MPH. Relative to the Country's road map. My old phone would be worth a fortune then!

unforeseen

w50nky wrote: »

Perhaps in the future phone manufacturers will use the phones GPS facility to inhibit the phones use whilst the phone is traveling over say 10MPH. Relative to the Country's road map. My old phone would be worth a fortune then!

That would deny passengers the use of their phones and also the legitimate afforded to the driver.