Using a mobile

sevenhills

What is allowed?


Wasn't there someone that got off a fine when he was using his phone for a clock/alarm?
I use a mobile phone app in my job, but always when stationary. I thought using a electronic device was a different offence?



A driver who was caught filming a fatal road collision will have his phone destroyed as part of his punishment.


https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/drivers-phone-destroyed-filming-crash/

Jackmydad

The answers are linked from the page you linked to.
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/mobile-phone-laws/

Car_54

Jackmydad wrote: »

The answers are linked from the page you linked to.
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/mobile-phone-laws/

But not always the right answers, unfortunately.



"The mobile phone law specifically refers to this, stating it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile to follow a map" - simply untrue.



"The law is clear on when you can use a hand-held device behind the wheel. It is only legal if you are safely parked – and this does not include waiting in traffic or when sat at the traffic lights." - again, untrue.



The law prohibits hand-held mobile phone use while driving, but does not define either 'use' or 'driving'.


So far, there is no case law to establish what those words mean in this context.

Gloomendoom

Car_54 wrote: »

But not always the right answers, unfortunately.



"The mobile phone law specifically refers to this, stating it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile to follow a map" - simply untrue.

Hand-held mobile or mobile held in a hand?

Car_54

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Hand-held mobile or mobile held in a hand?

I'm not sure I understand the question. All phones (except land-line) are mobile, and if it's held in a hand it's hand-held.


Whatever, the law is clearer on this than on some other points. "For the purposes of this regulation ... 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;"

DoaM

Car_54 wrote: »

"The law is clear on when you can use a hand-held device behind the wheel. It is only legal if you are safely parked – and this does not include waiting in traffic or when sat at the traffic lights." - again, untrue.

I believe the bold bit is true ... provided that the vehicle ignition is off. (I'm unsure as to whether that also means the keys are out of the ignition, as many vehicles - my own included - don't have ignition switches, just ignition buttons).

DCFC79

As far as Im concerned you cant use a mobile phone when in your hand whilst driving, whether your using it as a sat back, texting your gf, your mates or your parents you cant drive and you have to pull over to check the map on the phone or text people.

Im sure I also read that if you use your phone as a sat nav it must be in a phone holder attached to your screen rather than down in the hole by the gear stick.

DoaM

DCFC79 wrote: »

Im sure I also read that if you use your phone as a sat nav it must be in a phone holder attached to your screen rather than down in the hole by the gear stick.

Correct. It must effectively be a semi-permanent fixture.

sevenhills

This maybe what I remember -

Jimmy Carr has escaped a conviction for talking on his phone while driving - because he said he was using it to dictate a joke.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1220999/Jimmy-Carr-gets-phone-driving-charge-Mr-Loophole-tells-court-He-telling-joke.html

AndyMc.....

DoaM wrote: »

Correct. It must effectively be a semi-permanent fixture.

So you're saying if I were to set the sat nav, throw the phone on the passenger seat and then start a journey with the phone guiding me and not touching it I'd be convicted in court?

What about the phone being in my pocket and linking it to the car to play music?

wongataa

AndyMc..... wrote: »

So you're saying if I were to set the sat nav, throw the phone on the passenger seat and then start a journey with the phone guiding me and not touching it I'd be convicted in court?

I doubt it unless it distracted you enough to cause an incident.


What about the phone being in my pocket and linking it to the car to play music?[/QUOTE]
Not an issue as long as it stays in your pocket and you don't touch it with your hands.