Is It Unsafe To Have Your Phone On Your Dashboard ?

venomx

I've just fitted a bluetooth transmitter so I can put my phone in the back of the car safely out the way and play my own music without any distractions ( you can skip songs on the device itself which plugs into the 12V socket )

I don't have DAB in my car but obviously I can stream it from my phone to my radio system. The only thing is if I wanted to skip a station I'd need to physically change it on my phone.
I was thinking of getting a mount which fits to the air vents in the middle of the dashboard so I can use DAB and change stations if I need to.

I think at this early stage of driving ( about one month ) it would be too soon to have my phone there. Ideally i'd put it in plane mode so no notifications come through but i'm sure that plane mode disables the 4G required to stream the radio

What are your thoughts on this ? As these days most new cars come with large interactive screens in the dashboard.
 Thanks

unforeseen

Bottom line. You should not be doing anything to your phone while driving! 

venomx

unforeseen said:

Bottom line. You should not be doing anything to your phone while driving! 

Good point.
What's the difference between having a sat nav ( for example ) and having a phone there ?

Grumpy_chap

Best place for the phone while driving is in the boot of the car.  No temptation then. 
That is what I do.  Bluetooth to the radio still works.
Better still in the boot and switched off.

[Deleted User]

Phone calls are a massive distraction. I recently fitted a DAB adapter to my old car that allows this new DAB radio to connect to my phone via Bluetooth, that feature will remain deactivated. The DAB adapter has a rotary dial to change channels.

I connect my phone to the car via lightning port for music and use Siri to skip tracks. I have no need to touch it. That removes the risk of picking the phone up as a distraction and police seeing this as a reason to stop. Apple have driving mode that disable call notifications when driving.

Beside which I tried the bluetooth connection and the quality for music is terrible.

Edit. There is an extra 2 aerials that need fitting for the DAB adapter, this improves reception and it is very good. I have not hit any reception issues.

prowla

The air-vent things work well.

I use one in a car which doesn't have satnav, when I need it,

Browsing music is a no-no, though.

facade

venomx said:

unforeseen said:

Bottom line. You should not be doing anything to your phone while driving! 

Good point.
What's the difference between having a sat nav ( for example ) and having a phone there ?

Nothing. If messing with either distracts you and affects your driving, then you can be charged with an offence. (Careless driving, not being in proper control or similar). The same would apply to eating a sandwich or drinking from a travel mug whilst driving.

Using a hand held phone for communication purposes is a specific offence in itself that carries a 6 point penalty, which is a licence revocation if you have had it less than 2 years.

Ergates

You could just leave your phone in your pocket - the bluetooth will work from there (unless you have foil lined trousers, I suppose), and you won't be able to fiddle with it.   Your phone I mean.

Nobbie1967

I suspect changing stations involves a bit of browsing for the new station and possibly traversing some menu options. This would make it a no no for me, takes your eyes away from the road for far too long. Same with selecting a route on a sat nav, just too complicated to do while driving. I stick with old style radios as you don’t need to look at them much to adjust.

user1977

No reason in principle why it ought to be more (or less) hazardous than factory-fitted stuff which include scrolling through menu options etc. I use Google Maps on my phone, attached to one of the vent-fitted holders. It does at least include voice control as an option (if shouting at Google is any less distracting than poking the screen).

Ant555

"I was thinking of getting a mount which fits to the air vents in the middle of the dashboard so I can use DAB and change stations if I need to."

Im willing to be corrected but I thought the law had been recently changed so that it is not permitted to even touch your mobile phone when driving (or sat in traffic) for any reason regardless of whether its in a cradle, on the seat, in your pocket.  6 points and a ban for a new young driver.

I think there was a news article that said even handling your phone to use applepay for, say, a mcdonalds at a drive through was currently not strictly permitted -although I suspect you would have to find a bobby in a really foul mood for them to pull you up on that one.