Using a mobile

Jackmydad

[quote=[Deleted User];74878196]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.[/QUOTE]

You're probably right. I haven't gone into it that deeply. As far as I'm concerned, I'll give all hand held devices a miss while I'm in the driving seat, and for that matter making or taking phone calls at all. it can wait.

I really don't want to be defendant in a test case to see whether I've broken the law or not. :cool:

Iceweasel

Interestingly 'hand held devices' do not include walkie-talkie radios or CB Radios.

Car_54

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.

I have no doubt that you read it, but it's not true.

Car_54

DoaM wrote: »

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

And the relevant law is?

Car_54

sevenhills wrote: »

This maybe what I remember -

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

The relevant law does not define "use". Mr Carr's lawyer ("Mr Loophole") managed to persuade (or bamboozle?) a bench of magistrates that "using" the phone as a dictation device was not really "using" it.


That court's decision is not binding on other courts.



There is nothing in the legislation, and, so far, no case law, to support that interpretation.

sevenhills

[quote=[Deleted User];74879625]The relevant law does not define "use". Mr Carr's lawyer ("Mr Loophole") managed to persuade (or bamboozle?) a bench of magistrates that "using" the phone as a dictation device was not really "using" it.

That court's decision is not binding on other courts.

There is nothing in the legislation, and, so far, no case law, to support that interpretation.[/QUOTE]


My own interpretation would be that if you are using a mobile for its primary perpose, to speak to or to text another person that is using a phone, but if you are checking the time or searching Google then that is a different offence.

AndyMc.....

sevenhills wrote: »

My own interpretation would be that if you are using a mobile for its primary perpose, to speak to or to text another person that is using a phone, but if you are checking the time or searching Google then that is a different offence.

Well that's wrong, if you're using a device that's covered by the act and is not in a fixed position in the vehicle using it is an offence. So you touch it to perform a function you're snookered if caught.

Paradigm

Using a mobile whilst driving isn't an offence by itself, holding it whilst using is!