Laws around using mobile phones while driving?

TooManyPoints

That article is almost a year old. As far as I know, despite their promises, the government has not yet modified the mobile phone legislation as they said they would in the wake of the Barreto judgement.

scrappy_returns

textbook said:

Are you allowed to use your phone as a satnav (google maps) phone stuck to front screen in a holder ?

Are you allowed to listen to youtube while driving with the phone on the top of dashboard so person talking or singing is on screen?   (If someone took a photo of this, could you be prosecuted?)

Youtube with phone on seat so not visible?

Are you allowed to speak on the phone if  on loud speaker (handsfree)? 

youtube connected to bluetooth speaker?

Sat nav, yes, of course.
Hands free, yes of course, speaker phone-how do you get to answer it and put it into speaker phone?-so of course not.
Why would you be on you tube when driving, that's weird. Podcasts for listing to, videos for watching, one for driving and a whole lot of other things, one for watching and concentrating on.
YouTube on seats not visible? Thens what's what's point, again, weird.

born_again

TooManyPoints said:

That article is almost a year old. As far as I know, despite their promises, the government has not yet modified the mobile phone legislation as they said they would in the wake of the Barreto judgement.

Very true.

But unless you can afford Mr Loophole & I bet his costs are more than any fine you would get. The general public have to either minimise the risk (don't do it) or risk it and suck up the consequences.

TooManyPoints

But unless you can afford Mr Loophole & I bet his costs are more than any fine you would get.

You don't need Mr Loophole or anybody else. I have seen at least two defendants successfully defend themselves. The defendant needs to leave it to the prosecution to finish their case without providing proof of "interactive communication" and then submit there is "no case to answer", citing "Barreto." Frank Lampard's case didn't even get to court once Mr Loophole had pointed out the deficiencies in the prosecution's case.

These charges are less common now (when there is no evidence of interactive communication).It seems the police/CPS have got their acts together and either raise no charges at all or charge an alternative such as "Not in proper control."

Grey_Critic

Why would anyone want to argue the toss over using a mobile whilst driving? It is the law - interesting that in the news today an inquest heard a woman watching *Love Island* on her mobile whilst driving ran head first into a truck.

Pity the Police did not catch her doing iot - she would be alive today. Many cars today have a bluetooth connection for mobiles or for just a few pounds you can but a hands free kit. Safer and keeps you within the law/

venomx

I only ever put my phone in a cradle if I'm using sat nav, otherwise the phone stays in the back of the car out of sight.
When I do use the Sat-Nav I put it in Do Not Disturb mode so any messages or distracting notifications don't come through

Jenni_D

My phone goes into the centre arm rest storage pocket plugged in to a USB cable so it connects to the car's infotainment system for Android Auto use.

textbook

scrappy_returns said:

textbook said:

Are you allowed to use your phone as a satnav (google maps) phone stuck to front screen in a holder ?

Are you allowed to listen to youtube while driving with the phone on the top of dashboard so person talking or singing is on screen?   (If someone took a photo of this, could you be prosecuted?)

Youtube with phone on seat so not visible?

Are you allowed to speak on the phone if  on loud speaker (handsfree)? 

youtube connected to bluetooth speaker?

Sat nav, yes, of course.
Hands free, yes of course, speaker phone-how do you get to answer it and put it into speaker phone?-so of course not.
Why would you be on you tube when driving, that's weird. Podcasts for listing to, videos for watching, one for driving and a whole lot of other things, one for watching and concentrating on.
YouTube on seats not visible? Thens what's what's point, again, weird.

listening to what's been said on Youtube but not necessarily watching it at all 

ontheroad1970

textbook said:

scrappy_returns said:

textbook said:

Are you allowed to use your phone as a satnav (google maps) phone stuck to front screen in a holder ?

Are you allowed to listen to youtube while driving with the phone on the top of dashboard so person talking or singing is on screen?   (If someone took a photo of this, could you be prosecuted?)

Youtube with phone on seat so not visible?

Are you allowed to speak on the phone if  on loud speaker (handsfree)? 

youtube connected to bluetooth speaker?

Sat nav, yes, of course.
Hands free, yes of course, speaker phone-how do you get to answer it and put it into speaker phone?-so of course not.
Why would you be on you tube when driving, that's weird. Podcasts for listing to, videos for watching, one for driving and a whole lot of other things, one for watching and concentrating on.
YouTube on seats not visible? Thens what's what's point, again, weird.

listening to what's been said on Youtube but not necessarily watching it at all 

So essentially watching it sometimes.  If there are pictures and the display is in front of you, you WILL watch it, more than occasionally.  May I make a suggestion?  hand in your driving licence and never drive again.  Irresponsible.  There are many other ways of listening to music without using youtube.  In fact, I can't think of a more disjointed way of listening to music.  There are loads of streaming services where you can set up a playlist and never have to touch your phone let alone look at it.  Why Youtube of all things?  I challenge you to give a reason to use Youtube over all other methods.  

Do you not care a jot that you are driving over a ton of metal while 'not necessarily watching' Youtube?

It beggars belief.  

Nofinway

OP - you need to get yourself familiar with the new laws re mobile phones coming into effect on 29th January 2022. 

In a nutshell - DON'T!!