Dashboard phone holder
I use my iPhone for sat navigation . What is the best secure but adaptable dashboard type holder please .
Answers
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It's actually been a while since I needed one with infotainment screens linking to phones now but the best ones I found where those that had two prongs and went between the individual vents on air vents then a plastic screw tightened them up to hold it in place but that meant that vent was out of action or a good large suction ones which used a clamp that held it onto the windscreen. Some come complete with charging
Search and look on Halfords or on amazon.
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Thank you for the help- I asked because some dashboard fixed holders have bad reviews regarding falling off particularly in hot weather - I. will look at the air vent fixed one s but if anyone knows of a good on top of dashboard one I would nee keen to hear about it -thanks again. Rob
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My OH is a keen cyclist, off road driver, and uses Quad Lock devices to secure his IPhone. Might be something suitable for what you want on their website. As far as I know he’s had no issues with using QL stuff, we had a windscreen mount in place all through last years hot Summer. All sorts of mounts, bike, windscreen, dash top, cup holder………..be aware you will need the appropriate phone mount as well though.
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A pleasure, I found that dashboard mounted one weren't that good, suction ones with a clamp to expel air were excellent.
Have a look here
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Whilst I understand your initial enquiry/question ‘dashboard phone holder’
Perhaps there is another question interlinked – ‘Is Touching Your Mobile Phone Illegal When Driving?
Many drivers wonder whether simply touching their mobile phone whilst on the road is considered illegal. The law distinguishes between touching and actually using your device. While it is not against the law to merely touch your phone, such as moving it or mounting it in a holder, it is illegal to use your phone for any purpose whilst driving. This includes making calls, texting, using applications, taking photos or videos, or engaging in any activity that involves interacting with or manipulating the device’s screen.
The offence of using a hand-held mobile phone, or another device capable of transmitting and receiving data, is set out in Section 41D of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and Section 110 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. These regulations make it clear that the law is focused on the act of use rather than mere physical contact.
In practical terms, drivers are permitted to touch their mobile phone for non-interactive purposes, such as placing it in a holder or moving it out of the way. However, it remains illegal to interact with the device, including looking at the screen or manipulating it in any way while driving. The key point is that touching your phone is not prohibited, but any form of use or manipulation is strictly forbidden under UK law.
Given these legal restrictions, it is worth not considering an alternative – the cheap option of purchasing a simple ‘standalone’ Sat Nav device, avoiding the risk of being stopped by the police and facing fines, penalty points on your licence??
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Is it OK to interact with and touch a sat nav but not a phone? They can be running the same program for the same purpose.
I believe it contravenes the law to touch and be distracted by anything when driving whether it be a phone or a Mars Bar.
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Our integrated Sat Nav/media console has a uconnect function, linking it by Bluetooth to my iPhone and my Applewatch. All I have to do to answer a call is press one button, much like pressing the media on/off button. To end a call, same one button. If I linked my iPhone via the accessories plug, it would give me verbal instructions on navigation, as well as showing me on the visual display by the speedometer distance to next turn and direction.
Using a phone can be made as safe as possible, without having to look or touch the actual phone once set up. Same with an iPad. We prefer using iPhone as a Sat Nav, because the directions given are clearer than the in car set up to be honest. Usually the passenger navigates which avoids having to set it up. The trick is to not utterly rely on any kind of Sat Nav prior to setting off, but to do a bit of research, maybe even list roads to be used. So far we haven’t driven onto mud flats, taken the roof off under a bridge, launched off a cliff, got stuck down a narrow street or jacknifed on a tight turn, but there’s still time.
Utterly agree that conventionally using a phone while driving shouldn’t happen, be that call or text. But there are other equally dangerous things happening behind the wheel of some vehicles.
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This is probably as good advice as we can get: here from the Black Belt Barrister.
The best way is to use the phone for whatever purpose always hand free.
From Gov.uk:
Using a phone, sat nav or other device when drivingIt’s illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or any device that can send or receive data, while driving or riding a motorcycle.
This means you must not use a device in your hand for any reason, whether online or offline.
For example, you must not text, make calls, take photos or videos, or browse the web.
The law still applies to you if you’re:
- stopped at traffic lights
- queuing in traffic
- supervising a learner driver
- driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving
- holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode
Exceptions
You can use a device held in your hand if:
- you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
- you’re safely parked
- you’re making a contactless payment in a vehicle that is not moving, for example at a drive-through restaurant
- you’re using the device to park your vehicle remotely
Using devices hands-free
You can use devices with hands-free access, as long as you do not hold them at any time during usage. Hands-free access means using, for example:
- a Bluetooth headset
- voice command
- a dashboard holder or mat
- a windscreen mount
- a built-in sat nav
The device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.
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Given these legal restrictions, it is worth not considering an alternative – the cheap option of purchasing a simple ‘standalone’ Sat Nav device, avoiding the risk of being stopped by the police and facing fines, penalty points on your licence??
Not sure if I'm reading that correctly, are you suggesting using a standalone satnav? But the same laws on mobile for phones apply to Satnavs - see my post above parts in bold. You would not be avoiding any risk by using one unless hands free.
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Thanks, Corners. On that basis it would seem OK to use a phone as a sat nav providing it is dash/screen mounted and not hand held.
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Yep, that was is what I got as well, but of course if anything did happen, heaven forbid, one would be in a difficult situation to prove one was not not distracted if you were on the phone.
As I post upthread, now I'm just so used to have either google carplay (or whatever it's called) displaying my phone screen on the car's info screen and using voice commands for satnav or the phone answer button on my steering wheel. There's also Hyundai's own inbuilt satnav which is quite good too.
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What I'm struggling to understand is why people have to interact with either their phone (for navigation) or a satnav whilst driving. I select the route before setting of - in my case using a pre-planned and saved route on my Tomtom as I have explained many times before on here. I then follow the verbal instructions until I arrive at my destination. Park up - and switch it off. I have no need to touch the device whatsoever whilst on the move. In the very rare event of something unexpected happening (road closure and detour, for example) I would either ignore the instructions until back on the main route again - or park up and re-program the TT.
Am I being dim and missing something?🤔
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I have to agree, I do the same, although I will switch off the guidance either by voice command, turn the sound off by the steering wheel buttons or a simple one press when safely stationary.
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Modern cars come with some fantastic technology, and even our recently passed on old Mini had Bluetooth capability. It just needs using as it should be to keep as safe as possible. And legal.
Now the MGB………55 years old now. Steering wheel is for steering only, the windscreen wiper switch is located south of the radio, the headlights are down there as well, the overdrive is by the driver door, the choke has a series of graduated wooden pegs, and the Navigation is by a paper book located in the door pocket. Requires a complete change of driving brain. There’s no power steering either, so you might need a bit of muscle🤭
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My original question that has resulted in some useful and some not so useful contributions was just for a secure fixing for a phone for Sat Nav use only . Although not the answers I was seeking its so good to hear that others still use paper based maps and even think about a route before setting off …….Just to say that Sat Nav does not exclude any pre planning. Thanks for the tips on best fixings .
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