Does anyone have the definitive new rules on use of mobiles in cars?

The answer I get seems to vary based on who I ask (and what they want to sell me...)

Debating which of the different combinations of car kit to get. or Just a bluetooth headset.

Jono

To put it simply...

If the phone is handheld at any time during the call you're breaking the law.

Handsfree cradles, bluetooth and hands free wires WITH AUTO ANSWER are safe.

PDA's (for sat nav) must also be in a cradle.

Strangely enough, you can press as many buttons as you like, as long as the phone is in a cradle, but if you crash the car, you'll be done for dangerous driving, and / or driving without due care & attention.

How's that?

According to the Sunday Times today, even the Plods don't know what the new regulations are, nor do dealers selling mobiles. The Dept for Transport FAQs here contain useful information on the new regulations - which is more than can be said for Northumberland Constabulary's site!

This is a copy of the Department for Transport's FAQs relating to Mobile Phones and Driving:

In a new regulation due to come into force on 1 December 2003, it is a specific offence to use a hand-held phone, or similar device, when driving. The penalty is a

Hi Jono,

Go to the link below for the definitve answer!!

<http://www.dti.gov.uk/industries/ecommunications/directive_on_privacy_electronic_communications_200258ec.html>

John.

Hi Jono' date='

Go to the link below for the definitve answer!![/quote']Or better still, click on the link at the end of the DofT's FAQs above....

I think this is worth a read, particularly for our members North of the Border

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3250642.stm

Hi Denis,

That's what happens when you read a post and send a reply later without doing a screen refresh!!

John.

Been there often, John. And if you quickly delete your 'redundant' post before anyone can read it, someone will already have seen it and posted a comment which then hangs in the air.......It's a no win - no win situation. :(

I enjoyed the interview with the Manchester traffic plod on BBC's Breakfast News this morning. Apart from not understanding a couple of simple questions, the plod indicated that 'up Norf' where he is based food and drink are considered to be 'personal devices' when consumed in a car. :confused:

Thanks for the prompt and helpful replies!

Jono

I don't know the definitive rules, but as far as I'm concerned, it's simple:- Don't use a f***ing mobile phone in the car!

There's enough research to show that using a mobile phone (even a hands-free one) presents a unique distraction to drivers.

It's not like talking to a passenger; they can see you (and get feedback that you are concentrating on traffic), and they are there, you don't have to visualise them.

It's not like talking on a two-way radio; in that case you are talking into a void (rather like a dictaphone) - there's no distracting feedback.

It's not like fiddling with minor controls - most of that is managed by a learned reflex if you're familiar with the car, with very little higher brain input.

Talking on the phone is unique; you are talking in real time with a "presence" you can't see, so you have to (subconsciously) visualise them - and that takes far too much of your available brain power.

decided to finally read this sticky and just found out that i have broken the law many many times while sitting with my bro while he learns and using the phone. think i'll not be doing that in the future!

Does anyone have the definitive new rules on use of mobiles in cars?

The answer I get seems to vary based on who I ask (and what they want to sell me...)

Debating which of the different combinations of car kit to get. or Just a bluetooth headset.

Jono

Trust me on this- I have reasons to know......

If you are operating the mobile in any sense of the word you will get an Fpn (n) which is a

Trust me on this- I have reasons to know......

If you are operating the mobile in any sense of the word you will get an Fpn (n) which is a

Sorry, must be how I wrote it, the hands free law does not cover fixed stuff but 'Not being in proper control' of a vehicle a different offence does-Fpn(n) still

I've still yet to work out wth "In proper Control of a Vehicle" means to be quite honest.

I mean I rarely drive with 2 hands on the wheel (one is normally keeping the gearstick warm :P) and I have a 15 year accident free record.

Who decides that I am not in proper control of my vehicle when I am driving perfectly normally not swerving or driving erratically ?

I mean I hear a lot about people getting stupid fines for eating behind the wheel etc.., I am in full control of my vehicle at all times whether I be eating a sandwich or drinking from a can of drink ( ok hot coffee is a bad idea I agree and I wouldn't do that), when I say full control I mean that I am fully able to react to changing conditions am aware of my speed and what other vehicles, pedestrians etc.., are around me, but if I take a bite of an apple I could get slapped with a fine ?!

What is the thinking behind this and how is it deemed that you are not in full control of your vehicle, more to the point how do you PROVE it, I always thought that all accusations of illegal activity had to be PROVED under British Law, or am I being niave ?

Octy_Oz,

Not in proper control is a situation based offence.

For example prior to the mobile phone legislation being brought in it would have been perfectly legal to drive using your mobile phone in certain circumstances. If you were driving down a straight road with good visibility on the phone this would not be an offence as with one hand on the steering wheel you would be in proper control of the vehicle.

If you however continued to use the phone as you approached a busy roundabout and passed the phone from your left hand to right hand taking both hands of the steering wheel to change down and then drove through the roundabout one handed before taking both hands off the steering wheel to change up again then this would be not in proper control.

I would hazard a guess that all the "I was only eating a mars bar, or drinking a can of coke and I got a ticket" Sun readers will have done something similar to the above prior to their 15 minutes of fame in that wonderful publication.

It has to be proven in court that you were not in proper control so there has to be some action to suggest this and driving one handed is not enough (some disabled drivers drive with one arm only).

Regards

It seems odd to me that by slapping a big magnet on my dash & plonking the mobi on it I am not breaking the law, whereas if it's next to me on the passenger seat I officially am?

This even though I am using a wired handsfree?

I've also got a BT one but not using that just now - will wait for the Furby before I get the car properly sorted with cradle & all that

I guess it all comes down to the mental state of the ocifer at the time of observation , you'll note I didn't say offence :P

fair enough

Basically the phone has to be held in a cradle, and you must be driving with due car and attention whilst talking through the handsfree system, if your looking into a car kit go for a nokia with cradle and external antenna holds calls far better and better signal strength and charges the phone. Bluetooth kit are good but if you touch the phone without it being in a cradle your breaking the law

Wow, it must be the week for dredging up oooolllld threads :eek:

As of 27 Feb 2007 if you get caught using a hand-held phone while driving you'll now gain three points on your licence and a £60 fine.

If the case goes to court, you could risk a maximum fine of £1,000, which rises to £2,500 for the driver of a bus, coach, or heavy goods vehicle.

UK Department for Transport | THINK! Road Safety - Welcome to the THINK! web site

As of 27 Feb 2007 if you get caught using a hand-held phone while driving you'll now gain three points on your licence and a

It was the announcement last month or so that made me buy a handsfree kit. I'm not a compulsive mobile phone user at all, but be honest, when someone calls you, you feel compelled to answer...