Points for using phone

Gsaver1

This morning saw a driver of one of these gritter type vehicles talking on his mobile phone. Surely a vehicle of this type would have bluetooth? Don't know if he knew the area that well because in the next twenty seconds he was going to be driving past a police station……….

TooManyPoints

The argument over using or holding should be irrelevant…"

I agree that it should be. But it isn't.

If Parliament wanted it to be, they could have easily framed the legislation to say just that. I don't know why, but they didn't. They certainly had the opportunity when the amendment was made following the case of Barreto.

The High Court judgement in that case made it quite clear that not only was holding a phone not contrary to the law, but you could use it as a camera or for any other purpose provided it did not involve “interactive communication.”

The 2022 revision of the legislation simply removed the stipulation that the usage had to involve interactive communication. It did not remove the requirement that the device must be “used”.

It’s not helped by stuff like this from AI:

“No, you cannot hold your phone for any reason while driving. In the UK, it is illegal to hold and use a mobile phone,..”

The second part of that sentence is correct. The first part isn’t.

“.gov.uk” has it a little more clear:

“…It’s illegal to hold and use a phone…”

Don’t misunderstand me – anyone driving around with a phone in their hand is stupid and asking for problems. But the police thought they were right in the case of Barreto and they were not. The Magistrates’ Court got it wrong by convicting him; the Crown Court got it right by acquitting him when he appealed. The High Court finally confirmed that decision when they dismissed an appeal from the DPP.

I believe at some tIme in the not too distant, we shall see a similar challenge when a driver, caught holding a phone, puts the prosecution to proof to show he was “using” it. The argument, of course will be “if you were not using it, why were you holding it?” 

But it is for the prosecution to prove that it was being used, not for the defendant to prove that it wasn’t. In order to convict, the court will have to either find that it was being used for some purpose, or decide that merely holding it is using it. I think it would be quite a stretch for them to do the latter.

Grey_Critic

There are plenty of Bluetooth Hands Free Kits on the market so no excuse.

Mildly_Miffed

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82050816#Comment_82050816

Hands-free kits cover one aspect of using a phone, but that's far from the only one - and probably not even the most common one while driving.

Most phones come with a wired hands-free in the box anyway, no need to buy a bluetooth one.

QrizB

Most phones come with a wired hands-free in the box anyway, no need to buy a bluetooth one.

I'd dispute "most". No phone I've bought this decade has been supplied with a headset.

OTOH even the oldest car we currently own as a household - my son's 2008 Micra - has built-in Bluetooth.

textbook

Wa

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82039154#Comment_82039154

Haven't done anything yet. Haven't received licence with points innit through post. Insurance renews in Nov. I'd like to know how much the increase will be

textbook

Thinking about putting a tablet with SIM and an app e.g. Google maps or whatever. Want a tablet so it's large and clear. I'd like to have an up that buzzes when I'm going over speed at that place.

Also in my Peugeot Expert 2013 want to put a speed limiter into it but don't know who would fit it

Purchased this

Johnmcl7

Have you looked at an Android Auto/Carplay screen? I have one for my 2011 car which has a basic one line display of its own, it can show navigation, some notifications and other apps that are designated as compatible for use in the car.

QrizB

Purchased this

That's just a control stalk. The rest of the OE speed limiter is a combination of software and hardware that your Expert might not even have.

A quick web search suggest an aftermarket speed limiter, including fitting, is about £500.

paul_c123

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82129988#Comment_82129988

The stalk is relatively easy to fit but it might also need a pedal harness (wiring) - or it may have it fitted already. Then its a case of changing a couple of values in a couple of modules, via a suitable diagnostic scanner/computer. I have done it a few times, albeit on VW and Audis.